(26 February) A commander of the Royal Thai Army has downplayed the extent of the nighttime shootout between anti-government militants and unidentified gunmen last night.

At least four locations around campsites maintained by the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) in downtown Bangkok came under gunfire shortly after midnight. 

The police initially reported that gunfire was first heard in the the districts of Pratunam, Ratchaprasong, and Pathumwan. The skirmishes later moved to the vicinity of Chulalongkorn University and Henri Dunant Road, police reports say.

Sounds of gunshots continued to ring out for almost two hours, according to witnesses. It was not clear who were involved in the shootouts, but accounts from many witnesses and reporters say PCAD guards were seen firing at unidentified gunmen. 

It was the latest violent incident for Bangkok. The capital city has experienced violence related to anti-government protests on a nightly basis.

However, Maj.Gen. Warah Boonyasit, commander of the 1st King′s Guards Infantry Division, told reporters today that there was no shootout between opposing forces last night.

Maj.Gen. Warah claimed the incident was "merely" about PCAD guards shooting at drunken men who threw fireworks at their checkpoints in order to chase them away. 

He also denied reports that the military personnel stationed near PCAD rally sites had come to the anti-government guards′ aid and helped them in the firefight against the unidentified gunmen, as the soldiers had no weapons, except for a number of officers who carried handguns. 

"It wasn′t a gunbattle, and no one was injured," Maj.Gen. Warah said, "It was only shooting to scare off [the drunken individuals]".

As for a separate incident at Makkawan Bridge, in which gunfire was heard at around 24.00, Maj.Gen. Warah explained that it was caused by a group of teenagers on motorcycles who approached a PCAD campsite to "harass" the protesters.

The PCAD guards responded by firing their guns at the group and managed to drive them away from the rally site, Maj.Gen. Warah said. 

"I′d like to ask the media, especially the TV media, not to portray the news as fierce gunbattle with unidentified forces," the army commander told reporters, "Let me insist that our soldiers kept guard at every location. No such thing happened".

He added, "Please do not exaggerate in your news reporting, because it would frighten the public".

Nevertheless, Maj.Gen. Warah said the military has planned to add more checkpoints in order to prevent attacks or violent incidents, such as the office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Constitutional Court.

Soldiers will also increase their patrols around the protest sites to ensure safety for "all sides", the officer announced. 

(26 February) The Redshirts have organised a symbolic protest at the anti-corruption agency to test the validity of a court ruling which barred the authorities from forcefully dispersing protesters.

At the rally in front of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) office in Nonthaburi province, the Redshirts demonstrators said they wanted to find out whether they are granted the same rights to peaceful assembly similar to the anti-government protesters.

The Civil Court ruled last week that the government cannot remove anti-government protesters from their rally sites nor impede their campaign to oust Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra by means of confiscating their items or sealing off roads around their protest sites.

According to the judges, the anti-government protesters led by the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) were exercising their rights to free assembly in a non-violent manner, as protected by the 2007 Constitution. 

The verdict effectively strips the government of special powers authorised by the emergency decree, which bans any political gathering, and is widely seen as a judicial endorsement of the anti-government protests.

To the pro-government Redshirts, the verdict is nothing less than another proof that the Thai courts are applying "double-standard" to the political crisis; in 2010, the court affirmed the State of Emergency imposed by then-Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva against the Redshirts protests in Bangkok.

In front of the NACC office today, the Redshirts demonstrators burned a mock coffin of NACC director and gave speeches denouncing the works of the NACC, especially its summon for Ms. Yingluck to hear corruption allegations against her on 27 February.

Some of the protesters also held up signs resembling a clock with its hands pointing at 12.00 (tiang trong) – the pun gesture was meant to question whether the Thai courts are fair (tiang trong) like the clock. 

The Redshirts also chained the entrance gate to the NACC headquarters, mocking the action of PCAD demonstrators who had besieged various state agencies in the past weeks. 

The protesters were led by Mr. Chawarit Suriya, a local member of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD). 

4 companies of police officers and 1 company of soldiers were stationed inside the NACC office to maintain order, while all non-essential staff were instructed to leave the office as a precaution. 

None of the NACC top directors were present at the office, our correspondent added. 

(26 February) Core member of the Redshirts leadership has denied allegations that pro-Redshirts provinces are gearing up to secede from Thailand.

"We have no armed forces. We don′t want to secede or break the country apart in anyway," said Mr. Weng Tojirakarn, co-founder of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).

He added, "The UDD wants to fight politically, not militarily".

Mr. Weng also denied reports that the government is planning to relocate its seat of powers to the northern city of Chiang Mai. "We support the system of democratic regime with the King as Head of State," Mr. Weng stressed.

Frustrated by what they view as a conspiracy by the Bangkok elite and the establishments to support the ongoing anti-government protests, many Redshirts openly advocate the idea of separating Thailand into two nations along the lines of political affiliation. 

Northern and northeastern regions of Thailand, along with some provinces and pockets of districts in the central region, are famously dominated by supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the influential brother of the current PM, Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra.

Most of Bangkok and the southern regions are widely seen as solid base of campaigns against Ms. Yingluck and her political clan.

The speculation that the ongoing conflicts may lead an all-out civil war has been extensively reported in a number of foreign media agencies, while the leader of the anti-government protests denounced the alleged attempts by the Redshirts to secede from Thailand.

Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, secretary-general of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), said on Tuesday that he would not let the Redshirts "trample" rule of laws and tear asunder the sovereign nation of Thailand.

He also accused Minister of Interior Affairs Jarupong Ruengsuwan of hinting at the Redshirts′ willingness to fight a separatist campaign; Mr. Jarupong had previously announced at a UDD rally that Thailand has more than "10 million guns" which could be used by the Thais to defend themselves from tyranny. 

However, Mr. Weng, the UDD leader, explained that Mr. Jarupong was merely reciting a statistic as an official who oversees registration of firearms in Thailand. 

"He was merely warning the people not to use violence. He was also warning [the military] not to launch a coup," Mr. Weng said, "It was not a threat to any side". 

The UDD activist also charged that it is in fact Mr. Suthep′s protests that are driving Thailand toward a civil war. "The government wants democracy, but Mr. Suthep wants to see violence and conflicts".

Furthermore, the Election Commission (EC) would be faulted should the civil indeed break out, Mr. Weng said, as the EC has repeatedly displayed its reluctance to conclude the general election. 

Thailand has lacked a functioning government since Ms. Yingluck dissolved the House in December 2013, and the PCAD has derailed the general election previously held on 2 February.

The EC has not yet announced the date for any by-election.   

(25 February) A pop singer allied to the anti-government protest movements was forced to cancel his show in Chiang Mai province after Redshirts gathered at the concert venue.

Pongsak "Off" Rattanapong was due to give his performance at Paak Pong bar-and-restaurant in Mueang district last night, but a group of Redshirts led by a local activist arrived at the restaurant shortly before the show and voice their disagreement with Mr. Pongsak′s scheduled appearance.

The activist, Ms. Kanyapak Maneechak, said the Redshirts find it unacceptable that Mr. Pongsak has sided with the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) by helping PCAD leader Suthep Thaugsuban solicit for donations on 10 February.

Mr. Pongsak also appeared with PCAD leaders during their campaign to find donations for rice farmers affected by the rice-pledging scheme.

"Many of the Redshirts who used to support Off are very angry," Ms. Kanyapak said.

As they waited for Mr. Pongsak′s showtime, the Redshirts occupied a number of tables in the restaurant ordered food. At around 00.10, a restaurant manager announced that Mr. Pongsak has cancelled the show. The staff also placed a sign in front of the venue announcing the concert′s cancellation. 

However, the Redshirts continued to eat and talk at the restaurant for a while to see whether Mr. Pongsak would show up. He did not. The Redshirts eventually paid their bills and peacefully dispersed from the restaurant. 

(25 February) Redshirts militants in Nakohn Ratchasima province have prevented rice farmers in the region from organising a rally to voice their grievance.

Rice farmers from 20 provinces in northeastern Thailand have previously announced their plan to stage a rally along Mittaparp Road in Korat to demand the rice payment the government has promised them under the controversial rice-pledging scheme.

However, more than 30 "guards" of the United Front of Democracy Against Dicatorship (UDD) arrived at Mittaparp Road in Pimai district this morning and set up several tents on the venue initially marked by the rice protesters as their rally site.

Many of the Redshirts guards wore balaclava and black shirts. Some of the guards proceeded to hang banners with threatening notes to the oncoming farmers. One banner reads "Don′t cause trouble here". Another, "Democracy is not about thugs closing down the roads".

Mr. Nakorn Srivipat, leader of the rice farmers protesters, later called off the rally, citing safety concerns for the demonstrators due to the black-clad UDD guards.

"Our coordinators agreed that we don′t want any confrontation," Mr. Nakorn said, "It might lead to chaos and losses".

He added that the farmers have been instructed to meet at another venue in Chokechai district, where they would discuss further measures to pressure the government.  

(25 February) The Royal Thai Navy has denied any connection to a group of suspects allegedly arrested on suspicion of carrying firearms and plotting to kidnap the Prime Minister.

The 5 men were reportedly arrested in Rayong province on 24 February. The police also confiscated 7 handguns the men were carrying at the time of their arrest.

Police officers in Rayong province have refused to talk on the record with our correspondent about the case so far, but rumours soon surfaced that the suspects were Navy SEALs team on a mission to kidnap Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra as threatened by anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.

Rear Admiral Karn Dee-Ubon, spokesman of the Royal Thai Navy, later denied the allegation. 

He admitted that 3 of the 5 suspects were ex-servicemen of the navy, but RADM Karn added that they have left the service "long ago" and have been working as security guards for Suvarnabhumi Airport. Two other suspects are civilians, the spokesman said.

Nevertheless, the commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy has acknowledged the incident and ordered an investigation into the allegation, said RADM Karn.

"Let me stress that all Navy servicemen … are neutral and not involved in politics," the spokesman said in an interview.  

The Royal Thai Navy had been previously accused of having a hand in political violence in Bangkok when a group of Navy officers were arrested last month with firearms and ammunition at a checkpoint in Bangkok, along with ID cards for anti-government protest security guards.

The navy eventually denied the allegation and claimed that the suspects were undercover navy agents on a mission to track down narcotics dealers.