Bangkok Post 11/01/2010

Growing numbers of red-shirt demonstrators led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) are rallying in front of Privy Councillor Surayud Chulanont's vacation residence in Nakhon Ratchasima. They accuse him of encroaching on Khao Yai Thiang forest reserve.

The protesters began arriving on Sunday night and fresh arrivals swelled their numbers this morning to more than 1,000.

Anti-government group leader Suporn Atthawong said on Monday morning that the group's supporters would not resort to violence or trespass into former prime minister Surayud's residence during the rally in Nakhon Ratchasima's Pak Chong district.

The UDD claims the Democrat-led government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is guilty of double standards for overlooking Gen Surayud's case, Many vllagers at Khao Yai Thiang had been charged over trespassing in the forests and forced to leave their land.

"If the government refuses to take any action, the red-clad army may move their mass rally to Bangkok," Mr Suporn warned.

Another UDD core member Sombun Khunthongthai said over 1,000 red-shirts from Pathum Thani will join the rally in front of Gen Surayud's home.

All red-shirt supporters from Pathum Thani had offered to pay for the buses to carry them to the protest, Mr Sombun said.

About 700 policemen have been deployed around Gen Surayud’s house. The main route around his home is heavily congested due to the protest.

Tighter security at Khao Yai Thiang ahead of rally

Bangkok Post 08/01/2010

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has ordered an increased police presence at Khao Yai Thiang in Nakhon Ratchasima province ahead of Monday's red-shirt protest rally, but said there's no need to invoke the Internal Security Act.

The red-shirts have confirmed they would rally there on Monday in protest against former prime minister Surayud Chulanont's ownership of a property that encroaches on a protected forest.

They have accused the government of turning a blind eye to the privy councillor's trespass on the reserve land.

Mr Suthep on Friday urged the red-shirts not to break the law and not to hurt innocent people in the protest area. Police have been ordered to prevent clashes and to take legal action against those breaking the law, he said.

He also said he did not believe the situation would turn violent, and that it was not necessary to impose Internal Security Act in the area.

Pol Lt-Gen Dechawat Ramsompop, chief of the Region 3 Police, said he believed the situation could be kept under control.

There were no reports of red-shirts arriving in the area ahead of the planned protest on Monday. However, police were ready to cope with any situation, he said.

Roads leading to the country home of Gen Surayud at Khao Yai Thiang would not be closed, but security checkpoints would be set up.