Reds in bid to foil Democrat rally

Hundreds of red shirts yesterday gathered in Khon Kaen University before a Democrat Party rally at the venue.

They also set up a stage on a loudspeaker truck with leaders giving a speech at the same time as the Democrats. Udon Thani red shirts leader Kwanchai Sarakham (Praipana) observed the rally in the area.

Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, former secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, MP Issara Somchai and Withoon Nambutr took part in the rally.

Democrat MP Satit Wongnongtaey posted on Twitter that the red shirts had sealed the entrance to the university and had told the people via community radio that the Democrats' rally had been cancelled. However, the rally, which was scheduled to scrutinise the government on the amnesty law and its loans, went on as scheduled.

In Bangkok, a 76-year-old woman yesterday filed a complaint at the Democrat Party headquarters claiming a journal of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration had doctored and published her picture.

The woman, Chitawan Putthikasetrin, was accompanied by a group of red shirts called Young United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship yesterday.