"We have no fear. If the government declare state of emergency, they can arrest us. However we are ready to be arrested," Sondhi told a cheering crowd.

He was responding a report that the government will declare state of emergency if the protest turns violent.

Sondhi said what he and other PAD leaders are doing is not for themselves but for the country. The rally which moved from Sanam Luang to the Government House on Tuesday vowed to stay put there until Thaksin resigns.

Meanwhile Chamlong Srimuang, chief of Santi Asoke Foundation, echoed Sondhi's statement.

"I had been jailed during the 1991 May crisis. So I will be fine if I will be put in jail again because I lead the anti-Thaksin rally," he said.

 Earlier Thaksin said the government is ready to announce state of emergency if the protest in Bangkok turns violent.

"Yes, I have in my hands already. I will sign it if the situation in Bangkok turns worse."

This is the first time that Thaksin admitted that the government has prepared to issue the state of emergency.

"We are worried of the tension caused by the rally in Bangkok. It is up to the security authorities whcih will decide on whether the state of emergency is necessary or not," he said.

Apparently referring to Chamlong, Thaksin said the security has to be on alert because a person who had involved in political chaos and violence in the past is among the rally's leaders.

Chamlong was a leader in the May crisis in 1991 in which armed soldiers gunned down dozens of pro-democracy demonstrators.

Thaksin also told reporters that he decided to travel to Ubon Ratchathani to ease tension as the anti-Thaksin government is scheduled to move to the Government House.

He said if he is in the Government House to chair the weekly cabinet meeting, there would surely be a confrontation.

Meanwhile a senior intelligence source said it is possible that the government would announce the state of emergency although the violence does not happen.

"The government can put the country in state of emergency by citing that the protest could cause chaos in the country. Using the state of emergency, the government can disperse the protest," the source said.