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Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Bring Thaksin back
Anti-government demonstrators sit near a giant poster of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as they attend a protest rally outside Goverment House Wednesday, April 8 2009, in Bangkok, Thailand.
BANGKOK - Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in Bangkok on Wednesday in their biggest bid yet to topple premier Abhisit Vejjajiva, sparking fears of a violent new twist to Thailand’s political crisis.
Security forces guarded key government locations as supporters of fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra massed here, one day after activists spiked tensions by attacking Mr. Abhisit’s car and smashing a window.
Police said around 40,000 red-clad protesters chanting ‘Bring Thaksin back, Abhisit get out!’ had gathered outside Abhisit’s office in the capital, where demonstrators have been staging a sit-in for the last two weeks.
‘We came here to expel the government,’ protest leader Nattawut Saikuar told the cheering crowd outside Government House.
‘We want to show them that we have more people than ever.’ A potential flashpoint appeared to be the protesters’ plans to surround the residence of one of the revered king’s top advisors, who has been accused by Thaksin of orchestrating the coup that toppled him in 2006.
Soldiers guarded the house of former premier General Prem Tinsulanonda from the early hours of the morning, a reflection of the sensitivities aroused by the role of the monarchy in Thai politics. ‘It’s time for us to get revenge,’ one protester said as he headed to Gen Prem’s residence.
British-born Abhisit warned the protesters of strong action if there was any violence, and rejected their demands to dissolve his four-month-old government and hold fresh elections. ‘The government will act decisively with any provocateurs,’ he said.
The government is under extra pressure to keep the peace ahead of a key summit of Asian leaders due to start on Friday in the resort town of Pattaya - the place where Mr. Abhisit came under attack on Tuesday.
Thaksin, who is living in an undisclosed foreign country to avoid a prison term for corruption, promised that the protests would mark a ‘historic day for Thailand.’ ‘We will come peacefully but we need as many people as possible to show that the Thai people will not tolerate these politics any more,’ he said in a speech via videolink to supporters outside Government House late on Tuesday.
Major General Suporn Phansua, a spokesman for Bangkok Metropolitan Police, said around 10,000 security forces had been deployed at major sites including Government House and Prem’s residence.
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‘Bring Thaksin back’
AFP
8 April 2009
BANGKOK - Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in Bangkok on Wednesday in their biggest bid yet to topple premier Abhisit Vejjajiva, sparking fears of a violent new twist to Thailand’s political crisis.
Security forces guarded key government locations as supporters of fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra massed here, one day after activists spiked tensions by attacking Mr. Abhisit’s car and smashing a window.
Police said around 40,000 red-clad protesters chanting ‘Bring Thaksin back, Abhisit get out!’ had gathered outside Abhisit’s office in the capital, where demonstrators have been staging a sit-in for the last two weeks.
‘We came here to expel the government,’ protest leader Nattawut Saikuar told the cheering crowd outside Government House.
‘We want to show them that we have more people than ever.’ A potential flashpoint appeared to be the protesters’ plans to surround the residence of one of the revered king’s top advisors, who has been accused by Thaksin of orchestrating the coup that toppled him in 2006.
Soldiers guarded the house of former premier General Prem Tinsulanonda from the early hours of the morning, a reflection of the sensitivities aroused by the role of the monarchy in Thai politics. ‘It’s time for us to get revenge,’ one protester said as he headed to Gen Prem’s residence.
British-born Abhisit warned the protesters of strong action if there was any violence, and rejected their demands to dissolve his four-month-old government and hold fresh elections. ‘The government will act decisively with any provocateurs,’ he said.
The government is under extra pressure to keep the peace ahead of a key summit of Asian leaders due to start on Friday in the resort town of Pattaya - the place where Mr. Abhisit came under attack on Tuesday.
Thaksin, who is living in an undisclosed foreign country to avoid a prison term for corruption, promised that the protests would mark a ‘historic day for Thailand.’ ‘We will come peacefully but we need as many people as possible to show that the Thai people will not tolerate these politics any more,’ he said in a speech via videolink to supporters outside Government House late on Tuesday.
Major General Suporn Phansua, a spokesman for Bangkok Metropolitan Police, said around 10,000 security forces had been deployed at major sites including Government House and Prem’s residence.
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