Reds urged to gather outside court

Red shirts have been told to gather in front of the Criminal Court next Thursday to offer "moral support" to their leaders, including Jatuporn Promphan, who, along with 23 other reds, will face charges of defaming the Constitution Court, which could revoke bail granted to many of them.

Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) leader Thida Tavornseth yesterday urged the reds to assemble peacefully in front of the court and warned that if the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) threatened a mass rally to pressure the Pheu Thai government, red shirts would act as a "wall" to protect the administration.

Vorawut Vichaidit, DAAD spokesperson, added at a press conference yesterday that no loudspeakers would be brought to the front of the court as the Criminal Court had barred their use. "If something happens and it can't be controlled [because we cannot communicate through loudspeakers] then the court is to be blamed."

Thida said instead of protest banners, red shirts would be encouraged to bring flowers in a show of solidarity to their leaders.

Jatuporn, meanwhile, said no matter what happens on Thursday, reds should be at the court in a peaceful manner, with no loudspeakers and no selling of memorabilia as they could be sentenced to six months imprisonment if they violated the court's order.

He said reds had been through difficulties together and would persevere no matter what.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party MP Thepthai Senapong said he supported the criminal court's order because red shirts exhibit behaviour that violates the honour of the court of justice and causes disturbance to other people.

Thepthai added that red-shirt leaders should not urge their supporters to show up at the court next week and condemned Jatuporn, who had earlier threatened to stage a hunger strike if his bail was revoked.

The House will be in session on Thursday and four red-shirt Pheu Thai MPs, including Kokaew Pikulthong and weng Tojirakarn, can cite their immunity in order not to show up at the court.