Phuket red shirt rally foiled by residents

WICHIT, PHUKET: Plans by supporters of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to hold a peaceful rally at the Navy Base at Cape Panwa early this afternoon got off to a bad start this morning, when the red-shirts got into a fight with local residents.

Following the argument, the red-shirted members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) were asked by leaders of the Navy base to leave and not return, sources at the scene told the Gazette.

The aborted rally is part of a nationwide campaign scheduled for today by the UDD to appeal to the military not to stage a coup to topple the Democrat-led coalition government of Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The Royal Thai Police have been placed on high alert today to provide security at military bases nationwide.

Local leaders of the rival People’s Alliance for Democracy have said they have no plans to confront the red shirts.

The Gazette will monitor the situation at the Navy Base and update activity there this afternoon.