The Nation
Democracy activist Weng Tojirakarn expects to lead a rally today at Sanam Luang, followed by a march to demand the immediate return of power to the people.
The march is to take place from Sanam Luang to the Si Sao Thewes residence of General Prem Tinsulanonda, the Privy Council president.
"The best way to restore normalcy is to revive the 1997 Constitution as the basis for an immediate general election," Weng said in yesterday's press conference to announce his rally. He said the Council for National Security (CNS) and the interim government should quit without any preconditions because "democracy should not be under a gun barrel".
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ANTI-COUP PROTEST
Rally rails against the junta
Activists play down differences between pro- and anti-Thaksin camps
Thai politics may continue to be trapped in a vicious cycle as there may be another power struggle before the referendum on the new constitution, which is slated for later this year, anti-coup leader Sombat Boonngam-anong asserted yesterday.
Sombat, who led the thaisayno.com campaigns against the coup and the junta-sponsored constitution, and his allies staged a rally of about 2,000 people well into the night at Sanam Luang, railing against the junta and the Surayud Chulanont government, which they regard as "self-serving" and anti-democratic.
"There may emerge another 'hero' who stages a coup and it may occur before the referendum. It's unfortunate that the people may not get the chance to determine the future of this junta by themselves," Sombat told The Nation, citing the deteriorating economy and continuing political divisions as factors.
Nevertheless, the campaign to oppose the junta and the new charter now being drafted will continue, and the group has gathered 3,000 signatures of citizens who have pledged to reject the new charter, including some 500 who registered their intent to reject it during yesterday's rally.
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