Thai protest leader evades cops
Source: Agencies |
April 17, 2010, Saturday
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A LEADER of anti-government protesters escaped from Thai police yesterday by sliding down a rope from his hotel and then vowed to hunt down the prime minister, raising fears the nation's political crisis could spark more bloodshed.
Arisman Pongruangrong drove off in a getaway car with two senior police officers taken hostage by his supporters, in the latest humiliation for the government, which less than 30 minutes earlier had announced on national television that police commandos had surrounded the hotel to arrest Arisman and other leaders.
Authorities have tried without success to end a month of demonstrations by tens of thousands of "Red Shirt" protesters in some of Bangkok's most popular shopping and tourist districts. At least 24 people were killed last week when troops tried to clear one group of protesters.
Yesterday's failed crackdown signaled the government was willing to risk another confrontation with the Red Shirts, who are mostly rural supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. They are campaigning to oust Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, dissolve Parliament and hold new elections.
But it only served to anger the Red Shirts, who immediately declared a "war" on the government. "From now on our mission is to hunt down Abhisit. This is a war between the government and the Red Shirts," Arisman, a charismatic pop singer-turned-activist, told supporters after his escape.
Abhisit put the army commander in charge of restoring order in the wake of bloody political unrest, taking the task away from the deputy prime minister yesterday. Speaking at a special television broadcast, he said General Anupong Paochinda would take charge of the peacekeeping force meant to prevent violence by Red Shirt protesters who are seeking to topple his government.
Arisman Pongruangrong drove off in a getaway car with two senior police officers taken hostage by his supporters, in the latest humiliation for the government, which less than 30 minutes earlier had announced on national television that police commandos had surrounded the hotel to arrest Arisman and other leaders.
Authorities have tried without success to end a month of demonstrations by tens of thousands of "Red Shirt" protesters in some of Bangkok's most popular shopping and tourist districts. At least 24 people were killed last week when troops tried to clear one group of protesters.
Yesterday's failed crackdown signaled the government was willing to risk another confrontation with the Red Shirts, who are mostly rural supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. They are campaigning to oust Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, dissolve Parliament and hold new elections.
But it only served to anger the Red Shirts, who immediately declared a "war" on the government. "From now on our mission is to hunt down Abhisit. This is a war between the government and the Red Shirts," Arisman, a charismatic pop singer-turned-activist, told supporters after his escape.
Abhisit put the army commander in charge of restoring order in the wake of bloody political unrest, taking the task away from the deputy prime minister yesterday. Speaking at a special television broadcast, he said General Anupong Paochinda would take charge of the peacekeeping force meant to prevent violence by Red Shirt protesters who are seeking to topple his government.
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