Abhisit spokesman warns of reds mobilising via radio

He said agencies involved should keep track of community radio broadcasts in Chiang Mai and Udon Thani as well as on taxi radio in Bangkok to learn about the group's movements. He used the red-shirt protest against Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai while he was visiting Chiang Mai on Monday as an example.

Thepthai said he believed the red shirts were getting ready to protest during Abhisit's visit to Buri Ram on Saturday, and said he would speak to the parliamentary committee in charge of state security to fix the problem if the group continues organising rallies.

Chief adviser of the party, former PM Chuan Leekpai, said he was not worried about Abhisit's safety, and that as a PM, he should be ready to take risks and visit dangerous areas, especially the restive South.

He explained that nationwide security was the government's responsibility, and it could not discriminate against other parties' strongholds.

The Northeast is fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra's stronghold, and Buri Ram residents are said to have leanings toward defacto Bhum Jai Thai leader, Newin Chidchob.

Buri Ram police commander Maj-General Sombat Kongpiboon said more than 3,000 police and military officers from the province as well as from Nakhon Ratchasima and Surin would be deployed to take charge of Abhisit's security.

In Buri Ram, provincial offices and local administration organisations have put up billboards and posters to greet the PM. The signs, also supporting the government's policies, will be placed along the route to Abhisit's eight destinations in the districts of Muang Buri Ram, Lam Plai Mat, Khu Muang and Khaen Dong.

Abhisit is also expected to preside over the opening ceremony of Buri Ram's mobile library based in five train compartments.

Meanwhile, the Public Health Minister said the red-shirt protest near the Chiang Mai hospital he was visiting was a dirty political tactic. He said he was doing his job there, dealing with the type-A (H1N1) influenza, and that he would continue visiting affected areas despite the rallies.

In a separate development, Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said he would not allow supporters of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to commemorate his 60th birthday at Sanam Luang on July 26 as planned. Sukhumbhand explained that Sanam Luang is meant for royal ceremonies or public events, not personal ones.

Also, he added, city officials needed time to prepare for the commemoration of Her Majesty's birthday on August 12.

Pheu Thai Samut Prakarn MP Pracha Prasopdee said it was wrong of the Democrats to say the red shirts were treating Thaksin as royalty because it would mean that they - the Democrats - were politicising the monarchy.