People's Democratic Reform Committee leader Suthep Thaugsuban has insisted there are no soldiers holding the rank of general behind "Operation Bangkok shutdown" as reported by some media outlets.
Mr Suthep said this in an interview with BlueSky television station while leading protesters in a march from Ratchadamnoen Avenue to the Pathumwan and Ratchaprasong intersections, two of the seven main locations for the PDRC's campaign to shutdown Bangkok.
Asked to comment on a report that caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was using the Defence Ministry to monitor the situation, Mr Suthep said no matter where she was Ms Yingluck was no longer able to perform her duties.
He apologised to Bangkok people for the inconvenience caused by the PDRC and asked them to sacrifice for the sake of the country.
"I am now leading the masses to various rally points. They can stop and join any of the rally sites, as they want," Mr Suthep said.
Sathit Wongnongtoey, a PDRC core member, said after the PDRC protesters have reached the seven main rally points the Dharma Army would take care of the old rally site on Ratchadamnoen Avenue.
He said the military had shown its intention to take care of the protesters, so they could rest assured that they would not be hurt.
On the shots fired at the coffee shop in front of the office of the Democrat Party headquarters early this morning, Mr Sathit said that in fact the party had nothing to do with the PDRC movement.