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Thailand's Red Shirts stage 1st protest
Source: Agencies |
September 20, 2010, Monday
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THOUSANDS of anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters defied an ongoing state of emergency in Thailand's capital yesterday to stage their first major protest since their street protests were ended by a deadly military crackdown in May.
The activities marked the fourth anniversary of a 2006 military coup that toppled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The Red Shirts include many Thaksin supporters as well as activists opposed to the military's interference in politics.
Thousands of people gathered yesterday at Bangkok's Rajprasong intersection, a glitzy shopping district that was occupied by the group from April to May. The crowd, exuberant but peaceful, spilled into the street and snarled traffic, while hundreds of police stood by in case of trouble.
"This showed that a large number of Red Shirt people, despite the emergency decree being in effect, are still passionate and want to express their feelings," said Sombat Boonngamanong, a Red Shirt organizer.
The Red Shirt protests earlier this year, which demanded that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva call early elections, deteriorated into violence that turned many parts of Bangkok into a virtual war zone, leaving about 90 people dead and more than 1,400 hurt, mostly demonstrators.
When troops moved in with live ammunition to clear the demonstrators on May 19 - exactly four months ago - hardcore protesters set fire to almost three dozen buildings around Bangkok, including the country's biggest luxury shopping mall and the stock exchange. Most top Red Shirt leaders were detained.
Bangkok is under a state of emergency imposed in April.
The activities marked the fourth anniversary of a 2006 military coup that toppled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The Red Shirts include many Thaksin supporters as well as activists opposed to the military's interference in politics.
Thousands of people gathered yesterday at Bangkok's Rajprasong intersection, a glitzy shopping district that was occupied by the group from April to May. The crowd, exuberant but peaceful, spilled into the street and snarled traffic, while hundreds of police stood by in case of trouble.
"This showed that a large number of Red Shirt people, despite the emergency decree being in effect, are still passionate and want to express their feelings," said Sombat Boonngamanong, a Red Shirt organizer.
The Red Shirt protests earlier this year, which demanded that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva call early elections, deteriorated into violence that turned many parts of Bangkok into a virtual war zone, leaving about 90 people dead and more than 1,400 hurt, mostly demonstrators.
When troops moved in with live ammunition to clear the demonstrators on May 19 - exactly four months ago - hardcore protesters set fire to almost three dozen buildings around Bangkok, including the country's biggest luxury shopping mall and the stock exchange. Most top Red Shirt leaders were detained.
Bangkok is under a state of emergency imposed in April.
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