Thousands camp outside Govt House demanding PM step down - but |the sea of yellow has turned red

Government House has been reduced to an island by a sea of red-shirt protesters, a red sea that wants to drown the incumbent administration.

Camped out around Govern-ment House, the red-shirts are bent on pressuring Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to call a general election.

Déjà vu?

If you believe this is deja vu, think again. These anti-government demonstrators wear red not yellow, and unlike the People's Alliance for Demo-cracy (PAD), they worship former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

"I have Thaksin's photo hanging around my neck because it's a symbol of our rally," said a demonstrator who did not wish to be named. Protesters don't get the photos for free - each costs Bt20.

"I bought it from a stall close by," explained the man, who had travelled from Phuket solely to join the rally.

Students from Khon Kaen, Naresuan and Chiang Mai universities are also participating in the red-shirts' movement. Calling themselves "Seree Panyachon" (Liberal Intellec-tuals), the students have vowed to strengthen the rally with their support.

Thanks to the huge number of demonstrators, trade is brisk. Stalls offering all sorts of red products have mushroomed. The best-sellers are red T-shirts and feet-clappers.

Also popular are hats, shoes, caps, umbrellas, scarves, headbands and sandals - all red, of course. Free water is provided, but most demonstrators have to pay for their own food. There is free somtam for those willing to wait in long queues.

Toilets are rather dirty, and the smell can be overwhelming. Makeshift public bathrooms with water tanks and canvas partitions are available for anyone who needs to wash.

Free medical services are also on hand around the clock, while red guards patrol 24 hours a day.

People are searched as they enter the rally site. Once they get inside, there are sharp-tongued, pro-Thaksin figures on stage and occasional live music shows to keep them entertained. When evening comes, the face of their hero Thaksin often appears, giving phone-in speeches on screens.