(27 February) Deputy spokeswoman of the Prime Minister Office has pressed charges against anti-government guards who had briefly detained her on 25 February.

Ms. Sunisa Lertpakawat was identified and captured by security guards of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) near their rally site in Pathumwan Intersection of Bangkok.

The guards were seen interrogating Ms. Sunisa at their headquarters tent before she was released and told to leave the protest site. 

PCAD leaders have previously vowed to "arrest" top officials of the government in the bid to oust Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Cabinet members.

Speaking to the police at Pathumwan Police Station today, Ms. Sunisa expressed her wish to press charge against the guards for illegal detention and physical intimidation.  

Ms. Sunisa said she was visiting Pornkasem Clinic near the intersection for her dermatological conditions when the guards recognised her. The spokeswoman insisted she was not on a mission to spy on the protesters and she did not intend to provoke the PCAD demonstrators in anyway.

"I have to see my personal doctor who treats my skin," Ms. Sunisa told reporters, "If I didn′t go there, I would have to to the branch in Bang Kapi, which is very far from my residence".

Ms. Sunisa also claimed that she decided to visit the clinic in Pathumwan despite its close proximity to the protesters because PCAD leaders have repeatedly asserted that their rallies are peaceful and non-violent.

However, she said, her experience tells otherwise. According to Ms. Sunisa, a group of 20 PCAD guards stalked her shortly after she left the clinic and eventually mobbed her, some pulling her by the hair. The guards later escorted her for an interrogation.

"Let me stress that I didn′t intend to get close to the demonstrators and provoke them," Ms. Sunisa said, "I had to go because it was really necessary. Please give me some fairness".  

(27 February) Famous pop singer 'Jo Nuveau' is forced to cancel his scheduled performance due to pressure from the Redshirts protesters

The singer, whose real name is Mr. Jirayut Wattanasin, was slated to give performance at Tawanna 2004 pub-and-restaurant in Nakhon Panom province on 2 March. 

However, a group of United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) supporters marched last night to the bar with over 30 vehicles and force the venue to cancel the concert.

Ms. Somsri Sommercon, a local UDD leader, said she is deeply angered by Mr. Jirayut′s support for the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), which aims to oust Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. 

Furthermore, according to Ms. Somsri, Mr. Jirayut has made numerous remarks which insult the Redshirts movements and the poor across the country. 

She also threatened to organise a large protest at the bar if its managers refuse to call off the concert on 2 March.

In front of the pub, the Redshirts held up signs denouncing Mr. Jirayut –  one of them read "Nakhon Panom people don′t welcome any shop that supports the PCAD" – while their leaders gave speeches criticising the PCAD movements.

The pub′s manager, Mr. Pattanagorn Johjong, later emerged to negotiate with the protesters for around 30 minutes. He told the Redshirts that the management was genuinely unaware of Mr Jirayut′s political affiliation and willing to cancel the concert if the Redshirts insist. 

Satisfied by Mr. Pattanagorn′s proposal, the Redshirts peacefully dispersed from the restaurant.

Previously on 24 February, a pro-PCAD singer, Mr. Pongsak "Off" Rattanapong, was also forcedtocalloff his scheduled performance at a bar in Chiang Mai province, after a group of Redshirts besieged the pub prior to his arrival.

(27 February) The pro-government Redshirts continue to lay siege to the office of anti-corruption body for the second day.

The People′s Radio For Democracy (PRD) – splinter group of the Redshirts in Nonthaburi province – marched to stage their rally in front of the National Anti-Corruption Commission on Sanambin Nam Road yesterday in the bid to test the validity of a court ruling which endorsed the rights of the anti-government protesters to besiege state agencies and occupy roads.

In its verdict delivered last week, the Civil Court ruled that the campaign to oust Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra by the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) is in accordance with rights to peaceful assembly guaranteed by the Thai Constitution.

Incensed by what they view as the court′s siding with anti-government protesters, the PRD imitated their rival′s tactics, such as sealing off roads around the NACC, chaining the office′s gate, and preventing NACC officials from entering their workplace. 

Even their name of the campaign – "Shutdown All Non-Governmental Organisations" – is a direct parody of the PCAD′s "Shutdown Bangkok" operations.

At around 11.00, a PRD activist also announced on the stage that the officials should remove their vehicles from the NACC parking lot before noon, as the Redshirts would construct concrete barrier to lock-down the NACC compound – as the PCAD protesters have done to Government House earlier this month.

A number of Redshirts from Ratchaburi province also arrived at the campsite this morning.

Police said only one lane of the main road in front of NACC is open to traffic, resulting in heavy congestion throughout the morning.

The PRD′s siege coincides with the appointed date for Ms. Yingluck to meet with NACC chiefs and hear charge of her alleged corruption in the rice-pledging scheme, as summoned by anti-corruption commissioners. It is not clear whether Ms. Yingluck herself will visit the NACC today.

Pol.Col. Somphol Wongsrisunthorn, a police commander in Nonthaburi, said the authorities have deployed 600 police officers and 150 soldiers to maintain order inside the NACC compound. 

(26 February) Two arrested Royal Thai Navy officers have confessed to serving as security guards for anti-government protests, police say.

Petty Officer First Class Sompong Thaennark and Petty Officer First Class Preecha Moonpuak were arrested at a police checkpoint in Bukkalo district of Bangkok today after the officers searched them and found two Glock handguns, along with a number of ammunition for handguns and rifles.

An officer said the police grew suspicious of the pair when their pick-up truck approached the checkpoint and the officers quickly realised the vehicle had no license plate.

The search also turned up ID cards for security teams of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) and separate ID cards of the Navy Special Warfare Command – commonly known as the Thai Navy SEALs.

The police said both 1PO Sompong and 1PO Preecha are active serviceman.

Upon the arrest, the pair claimed they were based in Narathiwat province and were traveling to their headquarters in Chonburi province via Bangkok. However, the police refused to believe their tale and escorted the suspects to the police station.

Both suspects initially refused to provide any testimony to the police, a police officer said, but after 3 hours of interrogation 1PO Sompong and 1PO Preecha reportedly admitted they were hired by PCAD to serve as their armed guards.

Pol.Maj.Gen. Thitirat Nongharnpitak, deputy commander of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police, later arrived at Bukkalo Police Station and talked with the suspects. Speaking to reporters afterward, Pol.Maj.Gen. Thitirat said 1PO Sompong and 1PO Preecha claimed they were hired to protect PCAD leaders at the rally site near Lumpini Park.

Asked whether the police would press charge against the pair, Pol.Maj.Gen. Thitirat said although the suspects′ firearms were properly issued by the navy, it is an offence to carry weapons into areas under the State of Emergency without due cause.

He said the Royal Thai Navy has been contacted to retrieve 1PO Sompong and 1PO Preecha from the police custody. 

Pol.Maj.Gen. Thitirat also expressed sympathy for the arrested suspects, as they would have to face legal prosecution. "One of them has a 4-year old child, and the other has a 9-year old child," the officer said.

"The protest leaders must have felt frightened, so they felt the need to hire well-armed and professional men like these to provide some protection," Pol.Maj.Gen. Thitirat said, "I can only say that I really feel sorry for the [suspects]".

The Thai navy has been linked to the ongoing political crisis in recent days due to reports that some SEALs members have joined the ranks of PCAD guards.

However, the Royal Thai Navy has repeatedly denied the allegation that its force is involved in the current anti-government protests in any way.

(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.