UDD issues fresh red shirt rallying cry
text size

UDD issues fresh red shirt rallying cry

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) has called for a mass rally of red shirts in Bangkok on Sunday to counter growing anti-government protests and to show support for the Yingluck Shinawatra administration.

UDD chairwoman Tida Tawornseth on Saturday appealed to red shirts nationwide to descend on Rajamangala National Stadium for what she called a "major show of strength".

Ms Tida told the supporters to bring provisions as the rally would not end tonight.

The UDD urged red shirts to turn out in force to counter the anti-government movement's launching of its "one million people" protest on Sunday.

Ms Tida said the government had been "politically executed" by the Constitution Court and that the UDD, as the guardian of the democratic system, was duty-bound to protect the elected government.

"We will gather at the sports stadium and we have no plan to return home. We, the red shirts, are not hired. We will be going there voluntarily," Ms Tida said.

During the week, former Democrat Party MP Suthep Thaugsuban called for a million people to join a major demonstration today at Democracy Monument.

UDD core leader Jatuporn Prompan said key red-shirt leaders had decided to call a rally today as anti-government demonstrators led by Mr Suthep were moving closer to Government House.

He said it was also in response to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) accelerating its inquiry into criminal and impeachment cases against 312 MPs and senators, he said.

The legislators are facing an NACC probe for their role in the draft charter amendment seeking to change the make-up of the Senate, which the Constitution Court ruled on Wednesday was unlawful.

Mr Jatuporn said the NACC's review of the cases was considered a response to remarks made by Mr Suthep that his task of ousting the government would be completed by the end of this month.

He conceded the UDD rally today would not be as big as the combined anti-government rallies. But he was confident red-shirt demonstrators would outnumber those led by Mr Suthep in his rally planned for Tuesday and Wednesday, which will coincide with a no-confidence debate in parliament.

In hard-hitting remarks over a split in the red shirt ranks, Mr Jatuporn said those supporters who could accept seeing murder suspects come to power again should not join the UDD rally on Sunay.

He was referring to Mr Suthep and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who have been indicted for murder in connection with the Democrat government's 2010 crackdown on red-shirt protesters which left at least 92 people dead.

"We must come out and block them from returning to power. We will not allow them on the Government House doorstep," Mr Jatuporn said.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (33)