Ratchareuk Paorohit said residents had agreed to stage the protest, at which they would wear yellow T-shirts with the slogan "F Som Dai" (Flat is repairable), and submit a letter objecting to the NHA board's decision to demolish them and asking NHA governor Pornsak Boonyodom to explain why.

He said a stage would be set up in the estate's compound every Saturday evening to criticise the NHA's functioning and the decision to raze the flats until it gave up the idea.

"Thanks for your concern about our safety, but there's no reason to bulldoze these flats. We want to hear an explanation and a decision to repair the flats from the NHA governor," Ratchareuk said. "Two engineering agencies have confirmed that the flats can be fixed and the residents themselves see that these buildings can still stand for another 30-50 years."

He dismissed reports that residents had agreed with the NHA in talks on Sunday, saying those who did so were "fake".

Ratchareuk said residents of all buildings in the estate would join in the fight because, if the NHA succeeded in demolishing some buildings now, it would go on to tear down the others.

Reungyos Rakmanmitdee, head of the residents' committees of buildings one to 20, said only two or three of the 34 residents who attended the talks on Sunday agreed with NHA, while the rest disagreed on grounds the authority had no clear plan of action.

Reungyos said he disagreed with NHA's offer to give current occupants priority in moving into the new buildings and charge them only half the rent because it was still not clear how high the new rents would be.

The rents might range from Bt3,000 to Bt5,000 a month, which is too much, he said. Reungyos admitted there were divisions among residents and their committees and that many were still confused about the NHA's plans.

He urged the current appointed government to let the next, elected government resolve the issue with people's participation.

Housing estate resident Prawit Wannachokchai asserted that the opposition to the demolition was not driven by any political agenda but by actual concerns about the affected residents.

NHA deputy governor Surapol Channoi, who is in charge of the demolition plan, said the authority did not provide details about the new buildings, evacuation of residents, compensation and the new rental rates because it wanted the residents to make suggestions so they could draw up plans together.

The NHA had set moderate figures for compensation and other items but still faced resistance from the residents, he said, affirming that current occupants would be entitled to move back into the new flats.