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The organisers of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) however, seem to realise the lack of rationale for today's political activity, especially in the wake of the weeklong celebration of His Majesty the King's 82nd birthday.

A few public opinion polls conducted in the past few days say most Thais are relieved because they can enjoy a period of calm and serenity in the absence of any political tension. Doubtless, most people would prefer this kind of reconciliatory atmosphere to extend into the New Year.

In other words, even the most politically proactive Thais, regardless of their affiliation, find this purposeless rally a nuisance. It's a case of the wrong action at the wrong time in the wrong place.

It shouldn't surprise anyone therefore that the red-shirt core leaders have been somewhat timid about this public show of force, labelling it a "warm-up session" - a sort of a dress rehearsal - leading up to the big rally aimed at overthrowing the Abhisit government.

There is of course nothing unusual about any group of people in society trying to express their dissatisfaction with the government - or calling publicly for its replacement. But there is something quite disquieting for any group of people to hold a rally to disrupt the whole country's celebration of the nation's highest institution.

That's probably why Pheu Thai has officially distanced itself from the few core red-shirt leaders operating under the UDD.

They have declared December a month free of open anti-government activity, realising that most Thais find any political manipulation quite offensive at a time when a sense of unity and harmony to pay respect to the King is uppermost in the minds of the average citizen.

Of course, the opposition has to keep up the pressure on the government. But it has sounded out the public and found it too risky to stage the rally under the "red umbrella" at this particular juncture. That's why the Pheu Thai spokesman came up with a very innovative statement: "We are going to keep the government in check, with national reconciliation in mind."

Has the red-UDD split with Pheu Thai? Not really. No doubt, certain senior members of the party have privately expressed their frustration over the arbitrary decision of the "Red Trio" to take to the streets without consulting the party's leadership in advance. Likewise, the three core UDD "mob managers" have cast the party's leaders in a negative light, arguing that they simply don't have the guts to pit the opposition party against the Abhisit government.

The contempt is mutual, and the growing sense of mistrust has put Thaksin Shinawatra - the man behind it all - in a quandary. Does he want to go all out and instigate the red-shirts to show their muscle on the streets, so that he can threaten his enemies with a "civil war" to win his battle? Or does he want to pursue his come-home strategy through Pheu Thai using parliamentary tactics to discredit the Abhisit government so that he can continue to claim to condemn "anyone resorting to violent means to achieve his political goal".

The problem with the first option is the lack of credibility of the red-shirt leadership, which could leave his red movement badly shaken.

But the alternative doesn't offer any consolation either. Pheu Thai continues to be rudderless. The appointment of General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh as "party chairman" hasn't consolidated the party in any significant way. The party is nothing but an empty shell with the Thaksin logo pasted on. It doesn't stand for any policy. Neither does it offer any hope of being able to run this country better than the incumbent government, which is shot through with holes.

That probably explains why Thaksin abruptly called off the November 28 "Big Red March". He has made no mention about today's rally in his recent public statements. One day he sounded highly confident, mouthing abrasive rhetoric, ready to go for broke. The next day, he called for national reconciliation, preaching that this prolonged political confrontation won't benefit anyone, not least himself.

Mr Flip-Flop wants to have it both ways. But he knows that with the court verdict on his frozen Bt76 billion in assets drawing near, time just isn't on his side.