Three shopkeepers at Trinity Complex show their anger after shouting ‘Thaksin Get Out’ at the PM as he was trying to eat at the mall yesterday.

The Siam Paragon shopping mall and other upscale retail outlets in central Bang-kok started preparing for "chaos" yesterday as anti-Thaksin demonstrators unveiled plans to camp in front of their premises for three days, from tomorrow.

Siam Paragon, the city's largest retail complex, said it would consider closing temporarily if the situation gets out of hand.

Paiboon Kanokwattanawan, senior vice president of The Mall Group, which co-owns the multi-billion-baht complex, said management could not stop people from staging the rally, scheduled to take place ahead of Sunday's national election.

"However, if the situation gets chaotic, we could close the doors temporarily," he said, admitting that massive rallies could turn off foreign tourists. Foreign visitors are some of the mall's main customers.

Suriyasai Katasila, spokesman for the People's Alliance for Demo-cracy (PAD), said the anti-Thaksin movement had decided to camp out at Siam Paragon and nearby areas so it could be joined more easily by working and middle-class people.

"We want to step up the pressure on Thaksin to quit [before the April 2 poll]. Over there, we can hand out leaflets and spread information about Thaksin's misdeeds to more people," he said. Demonstrators would also ensure they do not disturb Royal Family members who live in the nearby Sa Pathum palace.

Siam Paragon's top executives held an urgent meeting yesterday, led by Chadatip Chutrakul and Supaluck Ampujh in response to the PAD's planned camp-out.

Tomorrow, Paragon is scheduled to kick off its first summer sale since the mall opened its doors in December. "The 1st Midnight Phenomenon" will run from 6pm to 10pm. The campaign,  which is being run with its affiliate The Emporium complex further down Sukhumvit Road, is expected to generate some Bt800 million in sales.

Also tomorrow, exhibitors at the Bangkok International Toys Show 2006 are expected to start bringing in items for the show, which will run from Saturday until April 10. HRH Princess Somsavali has reportedly been confirmed to preside over the opening ceremony.

"We have sent invitations to VIP guests and we don't know what to do as the demonstration will cause severe traffic congestion," said a source at The Mall Group who asked not to be named.

She said that as the area is privately owned the demonstrators would have to ask for the owner's permission first. "Till now, there has been no official request to use the area."

While Siam Paragon prefers to wait another day before making any move, the nearby Siam Centre decided to delay a fashion parade to showcase Thai fashion designers, due to take place in front of Siam Discovery Centre on Friday.

On Sunday, The Emporium closed its main entrance for two hours after protesters staged a rally inside the shopping complex and became involved in quarrels with the store's security guards. Other malls, such as Central World Plaza, Central Chidlom and Erawan Bangkok, however, have warned that their businesses could be hit hard if protests are held in downtown areas for an extended period.

"This would inevitably hurt shoppers' sentiment. We're closely monitoring the situation," said Preecha Ekkunagul, president of Robinson Department Store, which has an outlet on Sukhumvit 19.

Police, meanwhile, warned that city traffic could grind to a halt if the anti-Thaksin movement occupied all traffic lanes near Siam Paragon. "The rally there will wreak havoc," Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya said after meeting with security agencies. He said he hoped PAD would review its decision.

Traffic Police chief Maj-General Wissanu Kerdlarpphol said if the PAD set up stages on Rama I Road, half of the capital's traffic would be paralysed.

He said the gridlock would spread to Sukhumvit Road, Phetchaburi Road and Phya Thai Road. Inbound traffic on Paholyothin and Vibhavadi-Rangsit roads would bear the brunt, he said.

"Personally, I think the PAD has made this decision to deliberately cause havoc because the rally could take place anywhere," Wissanu said. He said the PAD should rally on Henri Dunant Road instead.

At the moment he had no mandate to stop the demonstrators from going to Siam Paragon.

National Police assistant commissioner Achirawit Suphan-naphesat, called on the PAD to sympathise with other people in the capital.

"The traffic around Pathumwan Intersection (close to Siam Paragon) is already congested. The rally will just aggravate the conditions," he said.

Ekkaporn Rakkwamsuk, a Thai Rak Thai candidate, said the PAD was now causing problems. "It has caused an adverse impact on traffic as well as on Bangkok residents. It's coming close to breaking the law," he said.