BANGKOK, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Pro-government demonstrators on Saturday expressed strong opposition to calls from anti-government protesters for the making of a non-elected prime minister and suggested heads of the judicial branch to never meet such pressing demands.
Chatuporn Prompand, leader of the so-called Red Shirt members, announced to tens of thousands of the pro-government demonstrators that the demands raised by the anti-government protesters for the Senate speaker and heads of the judicial branch to name a non- elected head of government are "unconstitutional as well as undemocratic."
Anti-government protest leader, former deputy premier Suthep Thaugsuban has urged newly-elected Senate Speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai and presidents of the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court and the Administrative Court to meet on Monday to name a non-elected premier instead of allowing one to be picked from among elected legislators who may win seats in parliament via a new election.
"The heads of the judicial branch are strongly suggested to never fall prey to such unconstitutional, undemocratic demands, or else the conflict will merely exacerbate and might possibly lead to civil war," Chatuporn said.
The pro-government Red Shirt demonstrators peacefully gathered in the Thai capital's northwestern outskirts to show solid support for an elected caretaker government.
The fresh rally of the pro-government demonstrators apparently followed Friday's stepped-up anti-government protests, which occurred outside the premises of the Police Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit road which has located the government's Center for Administration of Peace and Order and the headquarters of major TV stations.
Thousands of policemen stood guard at and around the Red Shirt rally site on Axa road as the Red Shirt activists, mostly from the provinces, poured into the road and nearby spots.
Meanwhile, some of the anti-government protesters have occupied Government House, left unattended by any government officials or police since the last several months, and while others gathered outside the major TV stations in the heart of the Thai capital.
Pro-government Red Shirt leaders strongly preferred the caretaker government, headed by acting deputy premier Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisarn who is currently performing on behalf of deposed prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, continue to run the country until a post-election government has been set up.
The leaders of the so-called United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, the official name of the Red Shirt movement, declared unfaltering support for the caretaker government and the Election Commission to organize a new election, tentatively scheduled for July 20, and strong opposition to the naming of a non-elected head of government which they branded as "undemocratic. "
But anti-government leaders said the caretaker government was no longer legitimate and already deprived of powers by the recent rulings of the Constitutional Court and the National Anti- Corruption Commission, which found Yingluck guilty of earlier abusing powers and neglecting duties respectively.
Suthep and several ex-Democrat Party lawmakers, who have become anti-government leaders, have pressed newly-voted Senate Speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai to name a non-elected prime minister as soon as on the upcoming Monday.
Surachai declined to comment whether he may agree to the naming of a non-elected premier as demanded by Suthep and his followers and only said he will hold a meeting with his upper house colleagues on Monday to discuss "a way-out for the country" from the sustained political conflict.
"All efforts to end the political conflict will be taken into account. We are yet to find the best way-out for the country," said the new Senate speaker.
He added that he will also consult with varied, high-level government officials about bids to solve the political crisis which has remained unresolved following the recent ouster of Yingluck as head of the caretaker government.
She was judged guilty last Wednesday by the Constitutional Court of unduly intervening in the 2011 transfer of Thawil Pliensri from the top post of the National Security Council only to pave way for the promoting of Pol Gen Preowpan Damapong as national police chief.
Pol Gen Preowpan, who replaced Pol Gen Vichian Podbhosri as national police chief, is brother of Khunying Podjaman Damapong, ex-spouse of former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra, who is brother of the deposed lady leader.
Pol Gen Vichian then was named chief of the NSC in place of Thavil who was transferred to an inactive post of adviser attached to the Prime Minister's Office.
The next day, Yingluck was ruled guilty by the NACC of failing to fight corruption involving the government's populist rice program implemented since the last few years.
She might possibly be banned from politics for five years if finally found guilty of the duty-negligence charges by the Senate.
