BANGKOK — The Redshirts have issued yet another threat to stage a massive uprising if the Senate accepts anti-government protesters' demand for an appointed Prime Minister.

Speaking to a crowd of pro-government supporters on the third day of their rally at Aksa Avenue in western Bangkok, Redshirt leader Jatupon Prompan criticised Senate Speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai’s decision to meet in person with the leader of anti-government movement inside the House of Parliament yesterday.

Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), was given a grand welcome at the Parliament – despite the arrest warrants on Mr. Suthep – and was granted a private audience with Mr. Surachai for nearly an hour. Journalists were not allowed to observe their discussion.

Mr. Suthep has been urging the Senate to appoint a new Prime Minister with a royal endorsement from His Majesty the King. Mr. Suthep claims this move is legal under Article 7 of the Thai Constitution. 

The government has dismissed the proposal as unconstitutional and insisted that the caretaker PM, Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisarn, will stay on until the next election on July 20. 

A number of appointed Senators have voiced their support for Mr. Suthep’s plan, leading pro-government supporters to suspect that the Senate may soon vote to appoint an unelected PM.

In his speech today, Mr. Jatupon said Senators risk becoming the servants of Mr. Suthep. The Redshirt leader lambasted Mr. Surachai for "conspiring" with Mr. Suthep in a bid to oust the elected government.

"Mr. Surachai has lost his dignity. He is no gentleman. He should know that Thais must live under the laws," Mr. Jatupon said.

Mr. Jatupon also challenged Mr. Surachai to reveal his true colours by granting Mr. Suthep's wish for the Senate to vote on an appointed PM.

 "We UDD [the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship] like challenges. If Mr. Surachai is confident that Mr. Suthep can protect him, then he should just go for a royally-appointed PM under Article 7."

While Mr. Jatupon stressed that the Redshirts will hold their position on Aksa Avenue, he confirmed that they will immediately "escalate" their rally and possibly march to central Bangkok if the Senate invokes Article 7. 

"So will the Senate use Article 7? Let us know soon. When Mr. Suthep is about to move, the UDD will move as well," Mr. Jatupon said to a loud cheer by the Redshirts. 

Mr. Jatupon also questioned why Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army, has not ordered the troops to vacate the Government House even though Mr. Suthep has announced his plan to seize the compound as his new "office."

"Why is Gen. Prayuth letting his subordinates accommodate the rebels?” Mr. Jatupon asked. “The military lets Mr. Suthep enter and use the area inside the Government House, they claim that they didn't want any clash. If one day Mr. Suthep is so arrogant that he wants to use the headquarters of the Royal Thai Army as his office, does it mean he can do so?"

Although Mr. Surachai has not openly stated his views on invoking Article 7, pro-government protesters suspect that he is highly sympathetic to the idea because of his backing from the appointed Senators – a pro-establishment faction in the Senate considered to be hostile to the current government.

Mr. Suthep has announced that he will give the Senate until the end of this week to decide on the invocation of Article 7. When the ultimatum expires, Mr. Suthep has said he will appoint himself as "Sovereign Body" and directly seek a royal intervention. 

Read more: Editorial: Stop Invoking Article 7 — And Get Rid Of It Too

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BANGKOK — Thailand's army chief has refused to say whether he will accept a proposal, submitted to him by a group of retired military commanders, that calls for royal intervention into the country's political crisis.

Calling themselves Ratthabukkol (Persons of the State, or Men of the State), the group is composed of elderly retired military strongmen, chaired by former Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Gen. Saiyud Kerdphol.

Gen. Saiyud, who turned 92 this year, has been urging the military to seize power from the elected government and appoint a "neutral" government to "save the nation from crisis." 

The retired general has also demanded caretaker Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisarn and the entire Cabinet resign in order to pave the way for the invocation of Royal Power.

Yesterday, Gen. Saiyud and other members of the Men of the State met with representatives from three branches of the Thai armed forces to hand over sealed letters to the military commanders. Gen. Saiyud said in a press conference later that day that the letters detailed the group’s demands for the military to request "Royal Advice" from His Majesty the King on how to resolve Thailand’s ongoing political crisis.

Speaking to reporters today, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army, said he has received and read the letter from the Men of State, but has yet to make up his mind on the issue.

"The proposals are mere ideas of the Men of the State. They have no binding power on any one, they are only for consideration," Gen. Prayuth said, "Society should not criticise them yet."

Although Gen. Saiyud's proposal amounts to a thinly-veiled proposal for a military coup, Gen. Prayuth said the Men of the State should be allowed to voice their ideas, as they are simply seeking a solution for the country.

"Right now everyone wants the country to return to peace," Gen. Prayuth insisted.

Nevertheless. the army chief said the military needs to further study the proposals before they agree on a response, noting that a premature acceptance may lead to more conflicts in the future.

He added, "The army admires these [Men of the State] for their loyalty and dedication to peace in our country. It is better than many people who have done nothing except criticise others, without consideration of how much damage this country has suffered."

In the press conference yesterday Gen. Saiyud also urged the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force to establish a joint "task force" to defend whatever decision is handed down by His Majesty the King. 

"They must crush those who dare [challenge the Royal Power] in order to show the sacredness of the Royal Decision," Gen. Saiyud was quoted as saying in a report published by Voice TV.

Gen. Saiyud added that he will give the armed forces until 14 May to answer, and that the military should request Royal Advice from His Majesty the King by 16 May. 

When a reporter asked what further steps the Persons of the State will take if the military refused their proposals, Gen. Saiyud replied that he will stop his "mission".

"Old men can only think. We have no power. We just want to inspire," Gen. Saiyud said.

Read more: Editorial: Stop Invoking Article 7 — And Get Rid Of It Too

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By Cod Satrusayang (DPA)

BANGKOK — Thai senators debated the merits of appointing a government to try and end the country's political conflict during an informal session Monday, as anti-government protesters moved their base closer to parliament.

Senator Kamnoon Sitthisamarn asked newly appointed speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai to hasten the appointment of a new prime minister in an attempt to "unlock" the current political crisis.

Kamnoon, an appointed senator in Thailand's upper house – where only a fraction of the members are elected – conceded however that such an appointment could be "wrong under the constitution."

Earlier Monday protesters in central Bangkok began moving their main rally site to the area surrounding parliament, hoping to pressure the Senate to appoint an interim government to institute reforms before any new elections.

Thailand's acting prime minister insisted that new elections were the only way to resolve the protracted political crisis.

Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan said the caretaker government was willing to work with all sides to end the impasse, but stressed that it must be done "within the framework of the constitution." 

"Any attempt by the courts (to launch a judicial coup) is done so at their own risk," he said. "We have legal mandate."

Pro-government supporters rallying on the outskirts of Bangkok also insisted on new elections.

Jatuporn Promphan, a leader of the pro-government movement, warned that support for an appointed government "will only lead to destruction."

"If you subvert democracy, you will be starting a civil war. We will continue our fight and we will escalate it until democracy is restored," Jatuporn said at a rally over the weekend.

Key Thai institutions are reportedly resisting demands to install an appointed government to make political reforms.

Analysts said the Senate, the Electoral Commission and various courts were unlikely to implement such a plan because it would put them at risk of breaking the law, the Bangkok Post reported.

There is no constitutional precedence for the proposal being pushed by anti-government protesters, an unnamed senior judge was quoted as saying by the newspaper.