A group of government supporters is planning to take up arms and stage running battles with the army on the streets of Bangkok if the military attempts to stage a coup against the Somchai Wongsawat administration.
Military specialist Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, who is close to the government, said a military putsch will be met by strong resistance from pro-government factions.
United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) supporters and several pro-government movements in the Northeast are poised to take to the streets and fight troops, he said.
Maj-Gen Khattiya, who claims to be training UDD supporters, said Molotov cocktails would be used against tanks if they rumble through the streets.
"If a coup is staged, the 4th Cavalry Battalion [which controls 50 tanks] will be blocked," he said.
"In the Sept 19 [2006] coup, tanks rolled out, but no-one dared to fight. This time, fire-bombs will be waiting.
"There is also a chance people will lie down on the streets and block the tanks. In the last coup people gave them flowers. But if they come out now, people will hurl Molotov cocktails at them."
There have been rumours of a new coup since the leaders of the armed forces, led by Army Commander Gen Anupong Paojinda, appeared on a television programme on Thursday and called on Mr Somchai to take responsibility for the Oct 7 clashes between police and protesters. The military's move was perceived as a threat to stage a coup.
Maj-Gen Khattiya blamed military leaders for creating a climate of fear in their TV appearance, as they were dressed in full military uniform.
When asked about the UDD's forces, he said they were being trained to fight and the training ground had been shifted from Sanam Luang to a training camp.
He said there were hundreds of UDD fighters whose task is to counter the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).
Maj-Gen Khattiya said UDD fighters had been approached by the government and the police to help block PAD protesters on Oct 7 and Oct 13.
On Oct 7 they were asked to go to Parliament to clear the way for Mr Somchai to leave the premises after delivering his policy statement.
However, the prime minister managed to slip out on his own.
He claimed they were asked to go to police headquarters on Oct 13 to counter PAD demonstrators who threatened to hold a rally against the previous clash. However, the PAD cancelled the rally.
Prime Minister Somchai has reportedly exercised extreme caution to avoid being captured to make way for a coup.
He took a chartered flight, instead of the usual military jet, to Ubon Ratchathani yesterday to visit soldiers wounded in border clashes with Cambodian troops.
Mr Somchai originally planned to travel to a hospital in Sapprasitthiprasong camp in the province with Gen Anupong and take an army helicopter to visit Thai troops near the Preah Vihear temple on the Thailand-Cambodia border.
He cancelled his visit to Pha Mor E Daeng for a situation briefing.
A military source close to Mr Somchai said the prime minister was urged to be cautious following Gen Anupong's televised comments.
Officers from the Air Force's Security Force Command and the police force have been sent to his house on Chaeng Wattana road to beef up security.
The source noted that the relationship between Mr Somchai and Gen Anupong had deteriorated, but the prime minister had no plans to remove Gen Anupong or any military leaders from their posts to pre-empt an attempted coup.
"The relationship between them has been totally severed. They stick with their jobs. Mr Somchai will not demote Gen Anupong. If the military want to stage a coup, let it be," said the source.
During his visit to Ubon Ratchathani, Mr Somchai was greeted by about 3,000 supporters.
However when he was asked about Gen Anupong, Mr Somchai refused to answer and walked away.
source bangkok post
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