BANGKOK – Tens of thousands of opposition activists in Thailand vowed on Friday to press ahead with anti-government protests, preparing for a new drive to win over Bangkok's politically powerful middle classes. The demonstrators remained at their base in Bangkok's historic heart, dancing to live folk music, listening to fiery speeches decrying the military's intervention in politics and planning Saturday's city-wide recruitment march. Investors are however convinced there is no danger to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and have poured 35.3 billion baht ($1.09 billion) into Thailand's stock market in the last month. The bourse was up 1.1 percent at a 20-month high on Friday, returning to positive territory after a day of profit-taking on Thursday snapped a six-day run of gains. The "red-shirt" protesters plan to fan out across the city of 15 million people on motorcycles and pickup trucks on Saturday, handing out leaflets and calling on urban sympathisers to join their push to oust the government. "We want to win the hearts of Bangkok people," Nattawut Saikua, one of the protest leaders, told Reuters. "We have already proven to them that we are genuine and non-violent. We want them to help us topple this hypocritical government." Analysts said it would be a tough task. "There is no case so far for the protest to gain mass support to overthrow the Abhisit government," Citigroup analyst Suchart Techaposai said in a research note.
