The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has cleared the way for its members to take part in the planned rally of the Pitak Siam group to oust the government.
PAD core members on Monday showed moral support for the group but decided they would not take part in the gathering at the Royal Plaza on Nov 24.
It has decided to cancel a political reform forum slated for Nov 24 in Kanchanaburi and Nov 25 in Phetchaburi, PAD key member Chamlong Srimuang said.
The cancellation is to give PAD supporters the chance "to use their judgement and personal decision on whether they will join the rally on that day with no activities by the PAD creating an obstacle", he added.
Sondhi Limthongkul, another key PAD leader, said the leaders unanimously agreed not to join Pitak Siam but they will not block their members from going to the Royal Plaza.
Pitak Siam's first demonstration at the Royal Turf Club on Oct 28 attracted an estimated 20,000 people, according to organisers. Police put the figure at closer to 7,000, but the stadium was full.
Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, leader of the anti-government Pitak Siam group, has vowed to mobilise at least one million people for the second rally.
The government and the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) remained cautious about the next Pitak Siam demonstration but are optimistic it will not gather pace to bring down the Pheu Thai Party-led government.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said security authorities would be able to control the demonstrators and was confident that the rally will not spill over to Nov 25 when a censure debate engineered by the opposition Democrat Party begins.
Red-shirt leader Nattawut Saikuar said UDD members will stay away from the Pitak Siam rally to avoid possible confrontations.
The rally will not disturb the work of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her government, they said.
But they were concerned that the situation was reminiscent of what happened before the coup in 2006 when the military decided to oust then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra after the PAD demonstrations against his government.
National army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha made the army's position clear on Monday that it will not try to deter the protest by Pitak Siam as the rally is within democratic principles.
But Gen Prayuth reiterated his intention not to allow active soldiers to join in the protest, although they could do so in a personal capacity.
"I don't want active soldiers to take part in the gathering because of possible consequences if there are problems coming out of the rally," he said.
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