Red shirts pick targets, plan to come to Bangkok

Red shirts pick targets, plan to come to Bangkok

NAKHON RATCHASIMA - The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) is to resume its political activities and will zero in on the People's Democratic Reform Committee, independent agencies, the judicial system and any plan to use the armed forces for a direct or indirect coup.

About 4,000 red-shirt leaders from across the country join a ''war drum'' meeting in Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday. (Photo by Thanarak Khoonton)

The new plans were announced by UDD chair Tida Tawornseth at the "war drum" meeting held at the Liptapanlop Hall in the Chalerm Phra Kiat Sports Stadium in Muang district on Sunday.

The meeting was attended by about 4,000 leading UDD members from around the country.

"Unlike the last meeting when we focused on fighting against a military coup, we now see the situation has changed. The ammart, or aristocratic elite, are trampling on democracy-loving people. We have to revise our strategies," Ms Tida said in her opening speech.

She said the UDD previously adhered to a two-prong strategy of working within the House of Representatives and outside of it. 

Red-shirt leader Tida Tawornseth, centre, reacts before banging a ''war drum'' in the Nakhon Ratchasima meeting on Sunday. (Photo by Thanarak Khoonton)

"Since the House of Representatives is temporarily not functioning, we have to review our strategy. We will have to fight with two main `legs'. The red shirts will form one leg and democracy-loving people the other," Mrs Tida said.

The UDD chair announced that the UDD's four main targets will be the PDRC led by Suthep Thaugsuban, the "fraudulent independent agencies of the aristocratic elite", the judicial system, which is marred by injustice, and the use of the armed forces for a coup.

She called on UDD leaders to unite and exchange opinions and provide suggestions on ways of advancing the struggle.

"We will continue to fight so that our long struggle will not be in vain. We have been fighting for eight years in a democratic movement. Today, we can't afford to yield to hooliganism. We have to try to win the hearts of the non-red shirts. We have to fight with rationale because we don't want to suffer any more losses. We will fight until victory," Mrs Tida said.

Red shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan said the fight to come would be much more difficult than the previous ones. It was necessary for all red shirts to think of how to get rid of Mr Suthep and those who were standing behind him.

"If we, the red shirts, do not come out, this government and democratic rule will be completely brought down by March," he said.

Mr Jatuporn said the problem facing the UDD was not only Mr Suthep, but also the network of ammart or aristocratic elites - the same group of people behind the Sept 19, 2006 coup and the 2010 political violence.

"From today we will have to fight until victory. We have two choices - to win or get killed. We have to teach Suthep a lesson for challenging the UDD," he said.

He told Matichon Online that the red shirts will avoid confrontations with the PDRC to prevent loss of life and all members will move into Bangkok when they are ready. Red-shirt members will converge on roads in the capital when the time comes, he said.

The meeting is mapping out plans for all red-shirt branches across the country to launch their activities in the same direction and in tandem with its strategy.

Other UDD core members who joined the meeting included Nattawut Saikuar, Weng Tojirakarn and Yossawaris Chuklom.

Pol Maj Gen Pongdit Prommichit, chief of the Nakhon Ratchasima police force, said tight security was provided to ensure the safety of the participants.

PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban on Thursday challenged the red shirts to come out to show support for the caretaker government and was immediately countered by Mr Nattawut. ''Don't worry. We will,'' he said in a red-shirt press conference hours later on Thursday.

Video by Thanarak Khoonton.

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