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'Red-shirts' swear peaceful rally

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The rally, the first one by the anti-government movement red- shirts since the emergency decree was lifted in Chiang Mai on Aug. 16, will kick off with a procession around the downtown Chiang Mai on 1:00 p.m., starting from the city's stadium.

A Thai anti-government "red shirt" supporter imitates a prisoner in Chiengmai, Thailand, Sept. 18, 2010. [Zhu Li/Xinhua]

After that, the red-shirts will go back to the stadium and stage a rally, said Seewan Junpong, a local leader of the movement, many of its members are supporters of Thaksin. Jatuporn Prompan, one of the core leaders of red-shirts, and Somchai Wongsawat, the former PM, will give speeches during the rally.

Although Thaksin had canceled his video address to avoid criticism, several highlights are scheduled, including phone-ins by fugitive red-shirt leaders like Jakrapob Penkair and Arisman Pongruangrong, Seewan said.

A local police officer who declined to identify himself said the police bureau of Chiang Mai city has asked support from the nearby 25 counties, and more than 1,000 policeman will be deployed across the city during Sunday's procession and rally.

The red-shirts seemed to have softened their stance as they scheduled to issue the government led by Abhisit Vejjajiva, who they claimed to be "illegitimate" to be the Prime Minister, only four demands at the rally, instead of the previous hardline demand of a house dissolution and a snap general election.

"Our requests for the government are: releasing the political prisoners in custody since the 2006 power seizure, reforming the judiciary to introduce jury mechanism, setting up a welfare state system, and introducing a price guarantee for farm products to narrow the income-gaps," said Seewan.

Nonetheless, Pruksunan insisted red-shirts won't give in. "If we don't see the democracy we want, the rallies will come again and again."

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