Thai "red shirts" plan march to demand new elections
19 Nov 2009 11:39:36 GMT Source: Reuters
By Ambika Ahuja BANGKOK, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra's supporters plan marches on major Bangkok roads this month to press for elections in the first protracted protest since violent rallies in April, a leader of the group said. The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), better known as the "red shirts", would begin the rally on Nov. 28 in the historic heart of the capital before marching to an intersection near the office of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. Nattawut Saikeau, one for the UDD's leaders, declined to name other areas where the "red shirts" will march. "We will not disrupt daily activities in the city or besiege government offices," Nattawut told reporters. "We will protest until the government returns power to the people," he added. The UDD brought traffic in Bangkok to a standstill for several days in April when they left their Government House base to occupy major intersections. The army was deployed to disperse the protesters, who responded by hijacking petrol tankers, torching dozens of public buses and hurling petrol bombs at troops who battled for 12 hours to contain the violence, the worst in Thailand in 17 years. The government has since used tight security laws to empower the military to limit movements of protesters. Nattawut said the group will march on key roads in Bangkok on Nov. 30 before peacefully dispersing on Dec. 2 as the country begins celebrations for the birthday of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand's sole unifying figure. The UDD said the protest will resume after the royal festivities end but would not give a specific date. Since April's violence the UDD has rallied peacefully in Bangkok on six occasions, calling for Abhisit to quit and for the government to process a petition signed by 3.5 million people calling for a royal pardon for Thaksin. After an unprecedented two landslide election wins, Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and remains at the centre of a bitter political struggle, despite living in exile after fleeing ahead of a two-year prison sentence for graft. The UDD rally will continue to pile pressure on Abhisit, who has faced an onslaught of attacks from Thaksin's allies and from within his squabbling six-party coalition. "The government has to maintain law and order," Abhisit said on Wednesday when asked about his reaction to the planned march. "The conflict will continue as long as a group of people still do not accept the rules." (Editing by Martin Petty)
Police officers survey the site of a bomb attack by suspected Muslim militants at a market in Narathiwat province November 15, 2009. A bomb hidden in a motorcycle exploded at a ...
