Red-shirts plot to undermine gov't : Chuan

"After the red shirts had predicted the government to last no more than three months, then they tried to burn down the country in April, hence no one should underestimate what they will do next," he said.

Chuan was reacting to the red-shirt plan to hold a rally on Friday's evening at Sanam Luang to finalise the signature campaign on the pardon petition for ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

He voiced suspicion that the red shirts might try to use the signature campaign as a pretext to stage a next move to undermine the government.

When the campaign was launched, the red shirts claimed to be seeking a royal pardon for Thaksin, he said.

The campaign had since been adjusted to present a grievance on justice in order to avoid the legal technicality since the original plan for a pardon petition, presented on a convict's behalf, violated the Criminal Procedural Code, he said.

The red shirts had strong financial backing and this should not be overlooked because money can wield formidable influence, he said.

At issue was the red shirts trying to find a pretext to keep on protesting even though the government continued to stay on course in administering the country, he said.

He urged authorities concerned to uphold the rule of law, saying strict law enforcement was deemed necessary if the crowds turned unruly.

In regard to the red shirts hounding Cabinet members during inspection trips upcountry, he said he warned his constituents not to retaliate against the opposition lawmakers.

The red-shirt opposition movement was normal in a democracy and should not spiral out of control if authorities strictly invoked the law to keep peace instead of inaction for fear of political reprisal, he said.