Anti-government "red shirts" prepare for rally to force elections

(12 Mar 2010) SHOTLIST Chiang Mai 1. Wide of cars with red flags of anti-government demonstrators on top 2. Statues in front of former Kings shrine 3. Various of Red Shirt protesters paying respect to statues 4. Various of Red Shirt protesters in front of statues 5. Wide of cars ready for heading towards Bangkok 6. Zoom in to Red Shirt protester 7. Close of sign reading (Thai/English) "Chang Phuak Gate" 8. Leader of Red Shirt protesters talking to group in front of city gate 9. Various of protesters paying respect 10. Protester hitting a gong 11. Protesters cheering 12. Pan to line of protesters waiting to hit the gong 13. Wide of protesters standing by vehicles 14. Various of banner in front of protester''s vehicle, reading (English) "Democracy by Thaksin, we need Thaksin to come back" 15. Wide of cars 16. Wide of cars driving towards Bangkok Bangkok 17. Troops guarding entrance to Government House in Bangkok, which has been the target in the past anti-government protests 18. Various of troops marching outside Government House 19. Shields of anti-riot police in a pile 20. Soldiers being briefed about coming protests 21. Various of soldiers listening 22. Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban entering Government House 23. SOUNDBITE (Thai) Suthep Thaugsuban, Deputy Prime Minister: "If the protest is peaceful, that''s fine. But if they block the roads and disrupt the lives of ordinary people in Bangkok, they''ll be breaking the law and we''ll bring charges against them." 24. Wide of Red Shirt demonstrators gathering in a park in the business district of Bangkok, anti-riot police in foreground 25. Wide of Red Shirt demonstrators addressing supporters from on top of truck 26. Protester hits photos of officials from current government, including the Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (last picture) 27. Mid of Red Shirt protesters STORYLINE The Thai capital braced for possible violence as anti-government activists launched on Friday what they hope will be one of the country''s biggest protests in an effort to force Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to call new elections. Leaders of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, called the Red Shirts because of their hallmark garb, have vowed to keep their "million-man march" protest non-violent. Demonstrators started meeting around the country on Friday and plan to converge on the Thai capital on Sunday. On Friday, convoys of buses and pick-up trucks were making their journey from Chiang Mai and other northern provinces of the country, the heartland of the so-called Red Shirt movement, while the government beefed up security in Bangkok. The group''s last major protest in Bangkok last April deteriorated into rioting that saw two people killed, more than 120 people injured and buses burned on major thoroughfares. The army was called in to quash the unrest. The Red Shirts include followers of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and other people who oppose the 2006 military coup that toppled him. They believe Abhisit came to power illegitimately with the connivance of the military and other parts of the traditional Thai ruling class who were fearful of Thaksin''s popularity while in office in 2001-2006. Several schools planned to close on Friday and again next week if circumstances warrant. Some two dozen foreign embassies have issued travel advisories, including the United States, which urged Americans to stay away from the protests where "violence cannot be ruled out." Some allies of the Red Shirts have openly boasted of armed retribution if the protests are suppressed. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...