Faction leader Newin Chidchob of the Bhum Jai Thai Party yesterday voiced his readiness to spearhead a campaign to protect the monarchy and fight the red-shirt menace.
"Law-enforcement officials must speedily tackle any offences against the monarchy, and if this fails I am ready to stand side by side with the people to protect His Majesty the King, the country's most revered figure," he said.
Newin said it was every Thai citizen's sacred duty to safeguard the monarchy and repel any attacks on the revered institution.
The influential politician, who was once the right-hand man of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, became a royalist after he was acquitted in a corruption case involving a rubber plantation last year. He collected factions from the now-defunct People Power Party to form Bhum Jai Thai, which later became a coalition partner supporting the present Democrat-led government.
Even though Newin has been banned from politics for five years, he continues to play an active role in the party and the government. He also chairs many committees to organise events and ceremonies in praise of the monarchy and gave birth to the blue-shirt movement to protect the Royal Family.
Red shirts behind activities deemed harmful to the monarchy will be brought to justice, because a case, backed by evidence, has been built against them, Newin said.
Officials, all of whom have sworn their allegiance to the monarchy, cannot be indifferent to evidence of plots against His Majesty, he added.
Commenting on the involvement of Pheu Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, he said a news clip aired by Channel 3 last December was proof of Chavalit's true colours.
The clip highlighted Chavalit's remarks given to former communists, outlining his thoughts on the monarchy.
"I believe people can form their own judgement of Chavalit after viewing the clip," Newin said.
In the clip, Chavalit pointed out similarities between the prevailing predicament and the 1932 revolution that grabbed power away from the monarch, he said, questioning whether Chavalit was hinting at the past to foreshadow his present movements.
Bhum Jai Thai Party spokesman Supachai Jaisamut also called for prompt action against those involved in plotting against the monarchy.
The legal proceedings must be followed through to a successful conclusion, Supachai said, voicing concerns about the situation spiralling out of control due to the lapse of law enforcement.