The Kana Lomruam Prachachon (Melting Pot Group) is going ahead with its weekend protest in central Bangkok despite admitting it is not quite the right time to successfully bring down the government.
Jatuporn Prompan, group co-leader and chair of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), announced on Thursday he will be heading to the protest at the Skywalk at Pathumwan intersection tomorrow and Ratchaprasong intersection on Sunday.
The group has sought police permission to use the plaza outside the CentralWorld shopping complex, adjacent to Ratchaprasong intersection for the Sunday gathering.
Mr Jatuporn said both protests will cause minimal traffic disruptions.
After the weekend protest, the group plans to travel to universities and the provinces to organise rallies there.
"We accept that the time right now may not be right to successfully topple the government," Mr Jatuporn said. "In the last 10 years, street protests have rarely been able to directly drive out the government of the day.
"The decisive factor [in removing the government] has everything to do with how much legitimacy there is left for an administration to govern," he said.
Kana Lomruam is in no hurry to oust the government. A people's movement needs time to build momentum, Mr Jatuporn added.
He alleged that the "Three Por" -- a reference to Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, Gen Prawit Wongsuwon and Gen Anupong Paojinda -- have a firm grip on the government. Mr Jatuporn accused the generals of plotting to quash hopes of a general election as they consolidate power.
Despite Gen Prayut being suspended as prime minister pending a Constitutional Court deliberation on his eight-year tenure, the "Por" clique is working to retain power, he said.
Nitithorn Lamlua, a Melting Pot co-founder, said Gen Prawit, who is acting prime minister, and Gen Anupong, interior minister, are in the middle of re-distributing power among themselves following Gen Prayut's suspension.
Meanwhile, Gen Prayut has signed a 20-page statement to be submitted to the Constitutional Court regarding his tenure as prime minister.
