Red Shirts flock in to support Thai government

As several more Thai government units had their premises occupied on Saturday by anti-government protestors, Red Shirt activists thronged into a stadium in the capital to show support for the government. Traffic around Rajamangala stadium was ultimately congested. Earlier in the afternoon, dozens of anti-government students from nearby Ramkamhaeng University had tried to block up the entry to the stadium but finally gave way to Red Shirt demonstrators while policemen stood by to deter possible clashes. A brawl had briefly occurred between a group of pro-government people and some of the anti-government students near the stadium. No injuries were reported, police said. Thousands of pro-government Red Shirt members led by Deputy Commerce Minister Nattavut Saikua and former lawmaker Jatuporn Prompand are expected to show up at the stadium in the evening. Nattavut earlier announced that the Red Shirt activists will not move out of the stadium where they have gathered for the past several days so that they will not be tempted into clashing with the anti-government protesters anywhere. The gathering of the pro-government demonstrators will remain peaceful no matter how provocative the other side might be, according to the Red Shirt leader.