BANGKOK – The winner of a national beauty pageant has caused an uproar on social media after critical remarks about the pro-government Redshirts were discovered on her Facebook page.

Weluree "Fai" Ditsayabut, 22, was crowned Miss Universe Thailand last night in a popular beauty pageant broadcast live on the state-owned Channel 3 TV. 

However, many pro-government supporters quickly discovered that Ms. Weluree has regularly published disparaging comments about the Redshirt movement on Facebook.

In one "public" comment from November, Ms. Weluree accused Redshirts of being "anti-monarchy" dissidents, and suggested that Thailand will be cleaner once the "dirty" Redshirts leave the country.

"I am not neutral. I am on the side of His Majesty the King," Ms. Weluree wrote. "I'm so angry at these evil activists. They should all be executed."

Enraged by Ms. Weluree's remarks, a number of Redshirt supporters have condemned her victory as Miss Universe Thailand on social media. Some have questioned whether Ms. Weluree is suitable to represent Thailand in the international pageant stage when she appears to despise fellow Thais in such a virulent way.

Ms. Weluree's winning of the Miss Universe crown also surprised many reporters who expected another popular candidate, Pimbongkod "Ellie" Chankaew, to take the title. 

According to the pageant profiles, Ms. Weluree is an accomplished actress, talk show host, and student at Kasetsart University's English Department. 

Repeated efforts to contact Ms. Weluree and the pageant organisers were unsuccessful. 

Read More: Beauty Queen Apologises For "Dirty Reds" Remark

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BANGKOK — Leader of the pro-government Redshirts has urged the commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army to explicitly announce that he will not, if offered, accept a job as an interim Prime Minister.

"I want to hear from the mouth of Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha that he will not accept the role as a non-partisan Prime Minister, before he retires," said Jatupon Prompan, chairman of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).

"In the past, Gen. Prayuth always countered every kind of news. But why is he silent on this matter?" Mr. Jatupon told a crowd of pro-government supporters at a rally on Aksa Avenue in western Bangkok today.

Mr. Jatupon's demand came a day after Gen. Prayuth reportedly refused to comment on the allegation that he is being considered for the job as an interim PM. 

Since acting Prime Minster Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisarn took the premiership on 7 May, anti-government protesters have been calling on the Senate to replace him with an appointed, royally-approved “neutral” PM.

Anti-government protesters claim that the Senate can legally appoint a new PM under of Article 7 of the Constitution, whereas Governmental officials and a number of legal experts have argued that such a move would be unconstitutional. 

Article 7 of the Constitution, which reads:  “Whenever no provision under this Constitution is applicable to any case, it shall be decided in accordance with the constitutional tradition in the democratic regime of government with the King as Head of State.”

Speaking on radio talk show yesterday, Bangkok Post "military reporter" Wassana Nanuam claimed that she received texts from Gen. Prayuth saying that Mr. Jatupon will have to take responsibility for his words if his allegation is proven to be untrue. 

He also reportedly said that the military's recent warning to invoke martial law should not be interpreted as a sign that the armed forces is taking sides in the country's political conflict. According to Ms. Wassana, Gen. Prayuth said that the warning was meant to deter all sides from committing further violence on members of the public, and that the military is not supporting any political faction. 

"It doesn't mean we will launch a coup," Ms. Wassana quoted Gen. Prayuth as saying. 

He reportedly added, "Don't accuse the military of bias … they should see who has done what in the past, like what happened in the 2010 [Redshirt mass protests]. Why don't they talk about that? The military was deployed to restore order, but we end up being victimised. Please give us some fairness."

However, Mr. Jatupon said that the Redshirts will not be assured of Gen. Prayuth's impartiality until he denies the allegation himself. 

"If Gen. Prayuth said that he will not be [Prime Minister], we will give Gen. Prayuth the longest applause we can do," Mr. Jatupon said, "But if Gen. Prayuth refuses to act on this matter, we will take it that he indeed wants to be a Prime Minister." 

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BANGKOK — Leader of the anti-government protest movement Suthep Thaugsuban has said he will turn himself in to the police if his upcoming "final fight" against the government fails.

"It will have to end by 26 May," said Mr. Suthep, the leader of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD). Mr Suthep announced last night that “victory” will be achieved by a massive "operation" to be launched next week. 

Although Mr. Suthep is known to have announced numerous "final fights" in the past — a report by Prachatai places the number at 11 — the PCAD leader insisted that next week's campaign will truly be the final struggle against the government of acting Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisarn.

In fact, Mr. Suthep said that if next week’s “final fight” is not victorious, he will accept defeat and turn himself to the police.

It is the first time that Mr. Suthep, who is wanted on charges of insurrection and other related offences, has expressed a willingness to turn himself in since the PCAD began its protests in November 2013.

Anti-government protesters accuse the current government of being a proxy for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whom the protesters view as a corrupt, anti-monarchy tyrant who continues to meddle with Thai politics from his self-imposed exile in Dubai.  

Mr. Suthep announced last night that on 19 May PCAD demonstrators will begin "hunting down"  the government’s Cabinet members and force them to resign.

"Those who know about the houses and safehouses of each Minister should report these home addresses to us." Mr. Suthep said, "We will organise rapid-moving units, and units that coordinate with neighbours and bureaucrats to determine where those Ministers are hiding."

He said he expects all of the 25 Ministers to be "found" within three days.

Mr. Suthep also said that the PCAD will encourage all state workers and bureaucrats to "rebel" against the government and hang banners proclaiming their loyalty to the "Great Mass of the People" in front of their offices.

Mr. Suthep said he plans to convene a meeting on 22 May with the leadership of every ministry, department, and state agency to "purge" those who are sympathetic to "Thaksin Regime."

"It does not mean we want to get rid of anyone. We will discuss how to re-educate the mind of those who serve Thaksin Regime," Mr. Suthep explained. 

Finally, the "Great Popular Uprising" will reach its climax on 26 May, when "millions of people" are expected to pour into the streets across Thailand, said Mr. Suthep.

"The operation to return Sovereign Power to the people will commence on 19 May. It will wrap up by 26 May, and 27 May will be the day we celebrate the victory of the people," Mr. Suthep said, "This is the last roll of the film. 27 May has to be the Day of Victory of the Great Mass of the People." 

"If the people do not come out in millions [by 26 May], I will cease all struggles, because I cannot fight more than this," Mr. Suthep said. "We have to prepare our hearts for either victory or defeat. We have done our best. Therefore, we will dedicate all we have to our missions from 18-26 May."

He added that he did not choose the date of 27 May as the Day of Victory based on any astrological calculation.

"I see that it is the time when the movies will have been playing for too long. It has to end,” said Mr. Suthep. Whether it will be a happy ending is up to the people throughout the country."

Mr. Suthep also suggested that Prime Minister Niwatthamrong resign before the PCAD attempts to unilaterally seize power on their own. For months, the PCAD has called for the creation of of an unelected "People's Council" headed by an appointed PM tasked with implementing a series of unspecified "national reforms.”

The PCAD had previously demanded the Senate appoint an unelected Prime Minister to replace Mr. Niwatthamrong in accordance with Mr. Suthep's interpretation of Article 7 of the Thai Constitution, but Senate Speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai indicated on Friday that he would not comply with Mr. Suthep's demand for the time being.  

Although Mr. Surachai did not rule out the possibility of an invocation of Article 7, the Senate's lack of action is considered to be a major setback for the PCAD. 

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BANGKOK — The Speaker of the Senate has postponed a decision on whether or not to appoint an unelected Prime Minister as anti-government protesters have demanded.

Speaking at a highly-anticipated press conference this evening, Senate Speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai said the Senate is willing to convene a parliamentary session to appoint a non-elected "neutral" Prime Minister “if necessary,” but did not elaborate on what the conditions are. 

He also urged the interim government to  immediately undertake national reforms "in every aspect," and suggested that Thailand needs a fully-functioning government as soon as possible.

Mr. Surachai's statement disappointed many anti-government protesters who expected the Senate to announce plans for an unelected Prime Minister today.

The statement came after Mr. Surachai's week of meetings with different agencies and organisations to seek input on how to resolve the political conflict that pits the embattled government of acting Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisarn against anti-government protesters and their backers in the establishment. 

Pro-government supporters have denounced the "forum" as a transparent effort by the pro-establishment faction of the Senate to create legitimacy around anti-government protesters' proposal to replace Mr. Niwatthamrong with an unelected PM.

Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), also met with Mr. Surachai this week and urged him to "listen to the Great Mass of the People" by invoking Article 7 of the Thai Constitution.

According to Mr. Suthep, Article 7 enables the Senate to appoint a Prime Minister of their choice with royal approval from His Majesty the King.

Article 7 states, "Whenever no provision under this Constitution is applicable to any case, it shall be decided in accordance with the constitutional tradition in the democratic regime of government with the King as Head of State."

Mr. Suthep told the Senate that they had until the end of this week to do his bidding. 

Upon learning that Mr. Surachai refused to install an unelected PM on Friday, Mr. Suthep, who was leading a large PCAD rally just outside the Parliament, expressed outrage and claimed that he would no longer associate himself with the Senate Speaker.

"We have heard his answer, that we have to wait," Mr. Suthep told the crowd. "The second I heard it, I felt happy to say that I  will never meet him again in Parliament. I am happy to quit politics for lifetime because I am tired of this kind of talking."

Mr. Suthep also scolded Mr. Surachai for telling reporters that there is no need for the Senate to personally explain their decision to the PCAD.

"Fine, we don't want to talk to you either!" Mr. Suthep said to a loud cheer from his supporters.

Mr. Surachai's announcement came as a setback for the PCAD, who have adopted the invocation of Article 7 as the centrepiece of their campaign.

Following the announcement, Mr. Suthep appeared to be at a loss of what to do next.  After delivering a short rant directed at Mr. Surachai, the PCAD leader unceremoniously ordered demonstrators to march back to Democracy Monument and contemplate their next move "over dinner." 

Although Mr. Surachai did not rule out the possibility of appointing an unelected Prime Minister, his decision today nevertheless eased pro-government supporters' fears that the Senate is 100% committed to Mr. Suthep's plan.

The United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) has previously threatened to escalate their protests if the Senate proceeds with invoking Article 7. 

Also today, a group of activists staged a protest against Mr. Suthep's quest for an unelected Prime Minister in the shopping district of Bangkok. Holding up signs that read "The People are the Neutral Party," the activists called the effort to install a "neutral" PM misguided, and insisted that an election be organised as soon as possible. 

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