"The plan, dubbed Pitak I, is aimed at pre-empting any protest-related violence," CNS spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnoed said.

The plan has already been activated and will remain in force until June 1 - or until all suspicious activities have ceased.

Soldiers from three branches of the armed forces and policemen will be mobilised to enforce crowd control measures, he said.

Under the plan, security authorities will strive to help people gain an understanding of the political situation, and monitor mass activities with the aim of discouraging the crowds from protesting against the verdicts. In the next step, authorities plan to set up road checks on all main roads linking Bangkok with the provinces in order to prevent villagers from descending on the capital.

Some 10,000 anti-riot forces have been on a high state of readiness within their barracks for immediate deployment should the situation arise.

If the crowds turn unruly, the CNS is fully prepared to declare a state of emergency before deploying anti-riot forces.

Sansern said the CNS would implement crowd control measures step by step ranging from a verbal warning to a crack down. Authorities will invoke harsh suppression as a last resort, he added.

He dismissed speculation that the CNS might mobilise its own crowds to counter the protests, saying authorities have no plans to incite people to clash with one another.

In today's Cabinet meeting, CNS chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin is expected to brief ministers on the security plan.

Sonthi plans to dispatch military officers to reason with villagers and disgruntled farmers ahead of tomorrow's verdicts. The dispatched officers will focus on the North and the Northeast.

He is expected to personally supervise the plan and monitor all mass activities.

First Army Region commander Lt-General Prayuth Chan-ocha, has alerted all security officials in the capital to brace for possible disturbances caused by motorcycle taxi drivers.

The CNS is anticipating a highly volatile public mood should the Thai Rak Thai receive an unfavourable verdict.

As a precaution, it is braced for every possible scenario if the crowds turn unruly even though it has no hard evidence to suspect any plans to incite violence.

"Among the staunch Thai Rak Thai supporters are some 80,000 taxi drivers and about 100,000 motorcycle taxi drivers, there is no way to predict their reaction to the outcome of the judicial review," the CNS spokesman said.

He said authorities must be prepared for unforeseen circumstances even though a mere 200 taxi drivers might join the protests.