"Kamnan Mano," leader of the People's Revolution Coalition for National Defense (PRCND), declared that he will not negotiate with the government unless there is a plan to reduce fuel prices, especially diesel to 10 baht per liter. He has not confirmed whether they will march to the Government House, awaiting consensus among allies. He emphasized that if citizens do not want the country to be taken over, they must dare to demand change.
On 9 Nov 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Mano Khrueakaew, also known as "Kamnan Mano," the subdistrict headman of Krabi Noi, Mueang District, Krabi Province, and a leader of the People's Revolution Coalition for National Defense (PRCND), spoke about preparations for organizing protests demanding the government address fuel prices and public hardship. This followed a meeting earlier that morning with Mr. Sonthi Limthongkul. He said the meeting was necessary because he lacked experience organizing large protests, including budgeting, venues, and managing protesters. They had already faced problems since the previous night, such as accommodation and food, so he sought advice.
Mr. Sonthi provided advice on stage setup and venue arrangements to ensure the protest complies with the law. He also supported food and boxed meals. After the discussion, they believed the activities could proceed smoothly.
For today's activities, the protest group prepared to set up a stage and begin at 16:00 onward, inviting individuals sharing their ideology, such as Police General Seripisut Temiyavet, Dr. Warong Dejkitvikrom, southern politicians including the leader of the Thai People’s Party, and others seen as fighters with aligned stances.
Regarding preparations for protesters possibly camping for extended periods, the working group has planned tents and rain shelters and established kitchens to provide food. Kamnan Mano said he felt reassured with Mr. Sonthi’s support and invited citizens wishing to help bring supplies, as the stage is for the people.
On security measures, they confirmed having a guard team, some with prior protest experience, focusing on preventing incidents from third parties and unexpected events. They emphasized coordination with police and responsible agencies regularly to keep activities within legal frameworks, especially since areas near Government House have strict public assembly controls and heavy police presence.
Regarding the duration of the protest, Kamnan Mano said whether it continues or ends depends on the government. So far, no government representatives have contacted them, and they have not heard the Prime Minister’s explanation about yesterday’s protest situation.
Additionally, the protest group plans to establish a complaint center to receive grievances from citizens and various groups nationwide. Currently, groups from Chanthaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, and truck operators are expected to join to voice concerns. They will collect all demands and present them officially to the government after assessing the number of participants.
Kamnan Mano reiterated that the key demand is for the government to cut fuel prices, especially diesel, to 10 baht per liter. He made clear that if the government or energy ministry representatives want to negotiate, they must first present a clear plan to reduce prices accordingly. Without this, no talks will occur. However, if the government can reduce the price by 10 baht per liter, they are ready to talk immediately; a reduction to 11 baht per liter would be even better.
He explained that fuel prices can still be lowered through adjustments in excise taxes and refining fees. He noted that refining fees used to be about 1.40 baht per liter but have risen to about 8 baht per liter, indicating room to reduce burdens on the public.
When asked if they would march to or storm Government House, Kamnan Mano did not answer directly but said they need to wait for consensus among like-minded allies and working groups. He confirmed no decision has been made on further actions yet.
On why he decided to lead and gather people to demand from the government, Kamnan Mano said he saw many citizens suffering hardships but no one stepping up as a leader—neither citizens, MPs, nor officials dared to act. So he chose to represent and voice the people's hardships.
He cited Krabi Noi subdistrict, a large area in Krabi Province with about 29,000 people, where he has close contact with residents. He found that rubber and palm oil farmers can somewhat cope, but wage laborers and salaried workers are suffering severely.
He also shared his experience visiting a clinic that used to have many patients but recently saw a significant decline, possibly reflecting economic hardships preventing people from affording medical care. This inspired him to post on Facebook, which attracted much public interest and support, leading him to gather allies to help people nationwide.
Regarding drug problems, Kamnan Mano believes past crackdowns missed the root causes. He said drug issues are linked to corrupt officials who take bribes and allow drug trafficking to continue, causing problems to accumulate and interconnect. He said the government must seriously address these root interests, not just arrest low-level dealers.
Kamnan Mano affirmed this protest is a platform for people to express hardships on multiple fronts. He called on citizens who do not want the country taken over to courageously show their stance and join demands for government reforms.
Asked if they plan to storm Government House if the Prime Minister rejects their demands, Kamnan Mano said he could not say yet; it depends on the working group’s decision. He warned the government that negotiations can only happen after fuel prices are cut by 10 baht. Regarding the 30-day deadline given, he noted many people share hardships and gathering here is difficult for those without resources. He urged true sacrificers, especially village headmen who have been community pillars since King Rama V’s era, to help improve the country’s future since politicians can no longer be trusted.
A representative of the people added appreciation to Kamnan Mano for leading villagers to oppose many injustices and current public suffering. Their group, from Chanthaburi and the eastern region, affected by polluted water and toxic waste, joined to oppose the construction of the Khlong Wang Tonot reservoir. They thanked Kamnan as a beacon of hope, affirming their sincere participation.
Mr. Thawin said many agree with Kamnan Mano to come out, but few have due to funding issues. He emphasized they come with genuine intentions and heard that more groups will join. He thanked Kamnan Mano for volunteering to lead nationwide despite hardships that discourage many, especially officials. He urged officials to have the courage to oppose superiors—whether military, police, or local administration—since following politicians will ruin the country, as they seek to take over all branches of government. He also expressed gratitude and satisfaction that the Appeals Court president ruled that citizens can sue the Election Commission directly, calling it a positive development.