PHUKET: Quiet little Nai Yang, a peaceful beach resort village not far from Phuket International Airport, is preparing for a different kind of exciting day in paradise.

Tomorrow, about 2000 red shirt supporters are to mass in the village for a rally. It will make windsurfing off the beach seem so-so.

Some big red shirt names from Bangkok are due on Phuket to give the keynote speeches, and there's plenty of Phuket agitation about the gathering.

News of the planned rally today brought a small protest by about 100 people who say they are non-political members of the ''We Love Phuket'' movement.

What it might bring tomorrow is anyone's guess. Phuket police are concerned, though, at the potential for trouble.

Phuket has long been a yellow shirt stronghold and the holding of a large red rally in a beachside village is being viewed in some quarters as a provocation.

The red shirt leaders say they are within their rights and after all, Thailand is a democracy.

According to Phuket red leader Suchat Petrat, who owns the Rotcharin Seafood restaurant where the rally will be held, several senior reds from Bangkok will be coming tomorrow to Phuket.

Well known names include Nattawut Saikua, Jutaporn Prompan, Weang Tojirakarn and Kokaew Pikultong.

Back in the days of the previous red national governments of the successors of Thaksin Shinawatra, a decent yellow rally on Phuket involving leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy could conjure up an audience of 10,000 or 20,000 supporters.

That seems so long ago. With Democrat opposition and Pheu Thai party government spokespeople both urging reconciliation and harmony, a large red rally on Phuket seems a little mistimed.

Earlier this year, a visit by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Cabinet set the tone for holding hands and moving forward.

One hopes tomorrow's rally on Phuket is not seen as something of a red rag to a large yellow bull.

The Phuket police presence was low-key today as the 100 demonstrators made their feelings known at Nai Yang, the gateway to Phuket's Sirinath National Park.

A few tourists passed the protesters' pickups, stuck with non-political ''We Love Phuket'' messages.

At this time of the year, the visitors to Nai Yang are mostly the types who prefers the rustic charm of a less popular beach to the thriving, throbbing Phuket nightlife hubs of Patong and Karon.

The ''We Love Phuket'' club highlights the special place that Phuket has as one of Thailand's prime tourist destinations, and what an important point it is that Phuket should never be allowed again to become a centre for heated political confrontation.

It was four years ago when the PAD invaded Phuket International Airport and held it for 72 hours before leaving peacefully, having not allowed flights during that period.

Anything that gave even a hint of further political trouble would do damage to Phuket's reputation as a safe destination. Even television footage of riot police on standby to quell unruly onlookers would be harmful.

Will the reds organising tomorrow's meeting really be able to fill 2000 chairs on Phuket with an audience, knowing the attitude of the majority of the Phuket locals?

Will the protesters acknowledge the democratic right of the reds to meet, even on yellow Phuket?

There will be some tossing and turning tonight as leaders on both sides perhaps share the same nightmare, and Phuket's police make their own reluctant plans to protect the island's image.

Commonsense may prevail in the meantime.