Chamlong Srimuang, who recently joined the anti-Thaksin coalition, said today's mass gathering would continue until the premier was ousted.

"It's like giving society a pill for stomach pain when it has toothache," said Chamlong, who himself brought Thaksin into politics in the late 1990s.

At a press conference yesterday the group announced that only Thaksin's resignation could open the way for political reform and dissolving the House would only lead to another "political trap" for Thailand.

PAD leaders fear the PM will simply use his huge and well-oiled political machinery to buy votes and win re-election.

"For the past five years Thailand has been a democracy only in name," said Suriyasai Katasila, of the PAD. Suriyasai said the snap election scheduled was an attempt by Thak-sin to protect himself from his crimes.

"The House was dissolved so he could evade problems and his wrongdoings. He's using legal loopholes again," he said, referring to the tax-free sale of Shin Corp.

Chamlong said the preparations were complete for today's mass gathering in Bangkok, which was expected to attract at least 100,000 demonstrators.

"The important thing is that enough people will show up on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday," said Chamlong.

"The country cannot survive, and we may lose our independence, if people simply stay idle," said Chamlong, who added that more groups were joining the PAD and the police were struggling to keep count.

Suriyasai said the PAD had swollen, since its foundation earlier this month, from an alliance of 27 groups to one of 101.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation