The People's Alliance for Democracy has vowed to hold a prolonged mass rally against the government if there is a renewed bid to seek a royal pardon for ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul yesterday said if the Yingluck Shinawatra government revives its plan to bring Thaksin back to Thailand without him serving part of his jail sentence and fails to stop the anti-monarchy movement, the alliance would hold a prolonged anti-government rally.
Thaksin was convicted in 2008 for abuse of power for helping his then wife Potjaman na Pombejra buy state-owned land in the Ratchadaphisek area of Bangkok in 2003.
He fled overseas before the Supreme Court sentenced him in absentia to two years in jail and has remained a fugitive.
"If the government does not back down, we are ready for a prolonged rally which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people," Mr Sonthi told a press conference at the Baan Phra Arthit residence, where the office of the PAD leader and ASTV is located.
He said the anti-monarchy movement was still active with websites with lese majeste content prevalent on the internet.
Mr Sondhi said the PAD is gathering evidence to prove the government is insincere in protecting the monarchy.
He said the alliance will submit a petition asking the government to take action against anti-monarchy elements.
If the government fails to act within 14 days, the PAD will stage a mass rally against it, Mr Sondhi said.
The PAD yesterday cancelled its plan to hold a protest against the proposed pardon decree in front of the Office of Council of State.
PAD spokesman Panthep Phuaphongphan said that the alliance's core leaders were satisfied with the confirmation by Justice Minister Pracha Promnok on Sunday that the proposed royal pardon decree would be in line with the one introduced by the previous Democrat Party-led government.
Still, Mr Panthep warned the government not to set its red shirt supporters against the yellow shirts.
"If there is a violent confrontation with the knowledge of the government, the government must take sole responsibility," Mr Panthep said.
"Thaksin has no land [in Thailand] to live on. Ms Yingluck may end up like her brother," he said.
Pol Gen Pracha said the draft royal decree for royal pardons for convicts on the occasion of His Majesty the King's 84th birthday anniversary on Dec 5 this year would have conventional conditions.
These include bans on people found guilty of drug offences and corruption and convicts who absconded.
Pol Gen Pracha, who is responsible for proposing royal pardons for convicts, made the statement only hours after Thaksin released a letter saying he had no wish to accept preferential treatment for a royal pardon.
Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin's legal adviser, said yesterday that Thaksin did not know about the details and content of the proposed royal pardon decree.
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