Security has been beefed up at schools in the deep South as the new semester began yesterday.
The 111 former executives of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party look set help the Pheu Thai Party sharply increase its membership rolls.
Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha warned against establishing red shirt villages in the far South, but key government figures have shrugged off his reservations.
The Democrat Party is planning to attack the government over its spending plans for projects claiming to help protect the monarchy during the 2013 budget debate next week.