(Thumbnail Image: Channel News Asia)

The citizens of Thailand want a new government. That is the message from The National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), also known as the Red Shirts. Protestors overtook downtown Bangkok in a peaceful protest, calling for the return of the former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a bloodless coup in 2006.

Channel News Asia looks at the bigger picture behind the protests.

REPORTER: "While the rallies are still largely about Mr. Thaksin, the Red Shirt campaign has come to symbolize a fight against what they call a corrupt democracy and bias in the judiciary."

PROTESTOR: "The Red Shirt is fighting for Thaksin, but one other thing is it's not true, but, what we're fighting is, we're fighting for the fairness. Okay, we want a fair game. We want a fair glory in this country. That's it." (FLASH)

REPORTER: "Some analysts doubt the UDD can mobilize 1 million people to Bangkok this weekend. They say many of the Red Shirts are rural peasants paid to attend rallies."

An Al Jazeera English reporter says the Red Shirts have a plan even if they do not get what they want.

"If the demands of the so-called Red Shirts are not met, they say they'll paralyze Bangkok. They'll move on to other important locations in the city, including a military base, where the prime minister is hold up with other key members of his government in a make-shift security command center."

Despite the protestors' vow to remain peaceful, a reporter in Bangkok tells Fox News how similar situations in the past turned ugly, citing a 2009 rally considered Thailand's deadliest in 17 years.

"They seemed to be happy, enjoying the live music and also enjoying Thai food. But, as we know, it can often get nasty in these crowds. The mood changes quickly. Last April, a similar rally turned violent, with two people killed and scores injured."

That is why this time the Thai government isn't taking chances with security, says a France 24 reporter.

"Security is extremely tight. Some, over 40,000 security personnel have been mobilized and some 46,000 civilian defense volunteers. A tough security law has been enacted, which gives the security forces the full powers to quell the protests."

The Red Shirts say they want a million people to show up and support the anti-government rally, but official numbers range from 50,000 to 150,000 people. An opinion columnist from the Bangkok Post says more is needed to make a difference.

"[The protestors'] much publicised final showdown to topple the government still lacks the knockout punch.  The one-million protesters expected by the UDD has not been achieved and remains a pipe dream.  Without that magic figure to tip the balance in their favour, it is doubtful the UDD will be able to overthrow the government."

But a CNN reporter says it's money, not attendance, that is the biggest issue for the Red Shirts.

"The question is have they got enough money to keep staying in the center of Bangkok? There's a lot of speculation that now that Thaksin has had his $1.4 billion confiscated just a week ago, that the finances of the Red Shirts are beginning to peter out and perhaps they'll only have enough money to keep people camped out in the middle of Bangkok for four or five days."


Writer: Brandon Twichell