Three anti-government groups have decided to escalate their protest aimed at ousting Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont and Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanich.
The intensified protest action was announced despite four coalition parties on Saturday agreeing not to push on with the controversial amnesty bill if the Senate votes to reject it on Monday.
In a joint statement, the Anti-Thaksin Coalition _ comprising civic groups in all 77 provinces, the People's Democratic Force to Overthrow Thaksinism and the Dhamma Army _ said the protest has been heightened from yesterday.
The aim is to expel the government and the heads of the parliament because they have proved to serve the interests of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the coalition said.
House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont, left, and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (File Photo)
According to the statement, the Yingluck Shinawatra administration is "the government of Thaksin, by Thaksin and for Thaksin" and has brought on national crises on many fronts.
The government has faced a number of corruption scandals in its policy administration, the coalition alleged.
In the statement, the alliance said it will push for "major reforms by the people's council".
The three groups are calling on the public to join their protest at Phan Fa Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Avenue.
The latest move comes after red-shirt supporters announced they would counter the anti-amnesty protests in Bangkok by staging mass pro-government demonstrations in several provinces next week.
Four coalition parties pledged yesterday to let the contentious blanket amnesty bill drop if it is rejected by the Senate tomorrow.
The leaders of the Pheu Thai, Chartthaipattana, Chart Pattana and Phalang Chon parties yesterday signed an agreement not to reaffirm the draft bill if it is returned to the House of Representatives.
The Senate is scheduled to meet tomorrow to debate the bill and it is widely expected to vote down the draft.
Pheu Thai's Charupong Ruangsuwan, Chartthaipattana's Thira Wongsamut, Chart Pattana's Wannarat Charnnukul, and Phalang Chon's Sonthaya Khunploem signed the agreement after making the announcement.
The move follows a suggestion by rectors and executives of universities that the coalition partners should make a public commitment to kill the draft bill.