More than 50,000 protesters defied orders to leave the Thai capital's main shopping district on Sunday despite threats of mass arrests, raising the stakes in the fourth week of street rallies against the government, according to Reuters. Despite repeated warnings they could face up to a year in jail, the red-shirted protesters looked set to remain encamped at a major intersection lined by upmarket department stores and five-star hotels in the heart of Bangkok for a second night. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called the rally "unlawful". But there was no sign that security forces would disperse the mostly rural and working-class "red shirts", who say they will not leave until parliament is dissolved and elections are called. Abhisit would not dare to force the crowd to disperse, Jatuporn Prompan, a "red shirt" leader, said from a makeshift stage. "If bullets are fired, it will be a disaster for him." The "red shirts", supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, hinted they may expand their rally to another area of the city on Monday. The protesters already occupy two areas: the shopping district and Phan Fah Bridge in Bangkok's old quarter. "Tomorrow we will move out to step up our pressure on the government," Nattawut Saikua, another protest leader, told reporters. "We will retain our current two protest stages. Whether we set up another will be dictated by the situation." Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the government would seek a court order on Monday to end their rally, which he says violates a tough Internal Security Act imposed last month. -- SPA
