Panlop to step in if Chamlong arrested

"Panlop told me he was ready to be my replacement if police arrest me and other PAD leaders," Chamlong said at the rally inside the Government House compound.

Panlop and Chamlong are graduates from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy Class 7. The two have been friends since entering politics in the 1970s.

Police have court-approved warrants to arrest nine PAD leaders, including Chamlong, since Wednesday.

Panlop said he and Chamlong had been buddies since their days in the military.

"Chamlong and I have a secret agreement to carry on one another's legacy," Panlop said.

He said he had made two long-standing promises with Chamlong - one was to be his replacement if something happened to him during the "Black May" drama in 1992. The second was to carry on any unfinished business if Chamlong was arrested.

Panlop said he would participate in the PAD-led protests should Chamlong be taken into police custody.

But he said he considered himself an aggressive strategist unlike Chamlong, whose approach was moderate.

"If I become involved in the protests, I will need just three days to force the government to tender its resignation," he said.

It might be wise for Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to resign now rather than being forced out of office, he said.

Prince of Songkla University lecturer Wichai Kanchana-suwan voiced concern that Panlop might cause the situation to degenerate into violence. He said the arrival of Panlop might hasten the government to declare a state of emergency.

Known for his hardline position on politics and security issues, Panlop consistently emerged onto political scenes at critical moments, including controversial ones, such as the storming of the Krue Se mosque which killed more than 30 lightly armed Malay Muslim separatists.

The former deputy director of Internal Security Operation Command (Isoc) came under another unwanted spotlight when one of his officers was linked to a failed assassination attempt on then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in August 2006.