With the upcoming court case about Thaksin’s assets some foreign reporters have gone to the Northeast. Nirmal Ghosh in the Straits Times:

“This is a call for democracy, and a message to the army not to interfere in politics,” said Kwanchai Praipana, a regional red shirt leader in Udon Thani.

The message is for the army to remain neutral and not mount a coup, he said.

The military has denied splits within the force and rejected growing speculation of an impending military coup.

Last weekend, the UDD held consecutive rallies, gathering 100,000 in Khon Kaen and 50,000 people in Ubon Ratchathani. The rallies were largely unreported by the Bangkok-based mainstream media.

The pattern is similar to events last April. Huge rallies held in the red shirts’ strongholds at that time were under-reported by the mainstream media, leaving many Thais in the capital shocked at the numbers who turned up at rallies held in Bangkok and Pattaya that month.

AFP:

Udon Thani province these “Red Shirts” are led by Kwanchai, a charismatic local celebrity. He estimates 300,000 people tune in to his “We Love Udon” radio show, which he insists is funded by local donations rather than Thaksin.

“All of you must be united and fight for democracy,” Kwanchai tells callers to the programme, many of them farmers, who ring in to pledge moral and financial support. Even a Buddhist monk calls in to bless him.
…
“The poor feel strongly about the need for democracy, their right,” Kwanchai tells AFP. “They want Thaksin back and they want to have an election.”

During a rare break at the Udon radio headquarters — also an office, kitchen and general gathering place for red-clad locals — Kwanchai explains how village representatives meet there twice-monthly to discuss their goals.

BP: So what will happen this month? The red shirts may face difficulties in transporting people to Bangkok as the government has set up checkpoints thoughout the country as The Nation reports:

The deployment of thousands of troops started in provinces across the country yesterday ahead of the verdict in the assets-seizure case against fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the government spokesman said.

Panitan Wattanayagorn said close to 200 checkpoints would be set up in and around Bangkok – where about 5,000 troops (54 companies) will be based, particularly at “points of entry and exit”, key state agencies, and transport networks.