“Our objective is not to cling on to our positions. Our objective is to see the country move forward within the principle of righteousness, not just for the short term but for the longer term,” the prime minister was quoted as saying.

His administration is amenable to the opinions of the red-shirt protesters, he added, even though he was not able to reply to their ultimatum for a House disbanding by noon today.
He firmly stated that there would be no elections in Thailand’s foreseeable future.

If the government still declined to disband the House, then another million cc’s of blood would be dispersed outside the Democrat Party center.

The next objective would Mr Abhisit’s house, he said.

“If the political problems subside and the Map Ta Phut impasse is clearer the country’s economy may expand more than initially projected to five per cent.

“But if the two issues are not solved, the economy might grow just three per cent,” MR Pridiyathorn warned.

He said this year’s market looked to enlarge significantly as prices of five main farming products of the country - rice, sugarcane, cassava, para rubber and oil palms - were much higher than the preceding years, allowing farmers to receive more and people to spend greater amounts.

Red Shirt’s youtube

Mr Natthawut said the UDD would boost its activities if the government falls short in meetings their demands.
He asserted that as many as 300,000 activists have joined the protest at the key gathering site around Phan Fa Bridge on Sunday. The Interior Ministry placed its approximation of the number of protesters at 46,377 at the Sunday gathering.

The turnout was far less than the “million man march” forecast by the UDD organizers.

At noon on Sunday, UDD leader Veera Musikhapong announced a 24 hour challenge to the government from the central stage at Phan Fa bridge.
The declaration, read by Mr Veera, said that since the Sept 19, 2006 coup that toppled the administration of Thaksin Shinawatra, the nation had been just a dictatorship.

Mr Veera warned that the group would extend their rallies across Bangkok in upcoming days if their demands are ignored.

He said the current government was in fact despotism under another name and the red-shirts do not judge it could be trusted to act in the people’s best interests.
Natthawut Saikua, a UDD spokesman, said that the red-shirts would not bargain with Korbsak Sabhavasu, the prime minister’s secretary-general, but would be pleased to do so with Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban or Newin Chidchob, the de factor chief of the Bhumjaithai Party.

Mr Arisman is alleged to have said earlier this week that every shirt follower should carry a container of gasoline and set fires if the government attempted to stop their rally.

He also still must face charges from last April’s red shirt-inspired violent behavior at Pattaya, where he was in the midst of a huge crowd that attacked the site of the Asean summit, and also for the Songkran riots in Bangkok.

They divided about noon into three convoys leaving in diverse directions within the region such as first route from city hall to Pakkred, Muangthong, The Mall, Big C Tiwanon, and Clock Tower at the Chao Phraya Pier.

They have voiced opposition to the September 2006 coup and voiced the belief that the unelected Abhisit government was Prem’s proxy administration.

All along the route, many passers-by waved for the convoy together with workers in restaurants, garages and groceries and even travelers waiting for public buses.

Prawit Rodee, a 54-year-old lawyer, said it was the first time he joined the demonstrations although he has been following the group since the Coup.

Government authorities have put up checkpoints and deterred those who have to join Bangkok rally this weekend.