"Thai antigovernment protesters clash with police" by Thanyarat Doksone
and Todd Pitman |
Associated Press, November 25, 2012
BANGKOK — Protesters calling for Thailand’s prime minister, Yingluck
Shinawatra, to step down rallied in Bangkok on Saturday, clashing with
police in the first major demonstration against the government since it
came to power last year.
Organizers had spoken of mobilizing hundreds of thousands of
supporters. But only around 10,000 turned up, and by dusk the leaders
called the rally off.
We have no way of knowing if the agenda-pushing is accurate here; however, we do know by the tone and past coverage that they are pro-Shinawatra.
Nevertheless, the tense gathering served as a reminder that the
simmering political divisions unleashed after the nation’s 2006 army
coup have not gone away. The coup toppled Yingluck’s brother, Thaksin
Shinawatra, triggering years of instability and mass-protests that have
shaken Bangkok.
Saturday’s rally was organized by a royalist group calling itself
‘‘Pitak Siam’’ — or ‘‘Protect Thailand.’’ Led by retired army General
Boonlert Kaewprasit, the group accuses Yingluck’s administration of
corruption, ignoring insults to the monarchy, and being a puppet of
Thaksin.
What I see here is a general who cares about his country and its sovereignty and who doesn't want it destroyed by integrating into the global order.
Yingluck took the group’s threats seriously and accused them of
trying to topple her government, which came to power in mid-2011 after
winning a landslide electoral victory.
One of the women of South Asia.
Concerned about possible
violence, Yingluck deployed nearly 17,000 police and invoked a special
security law to give them extra powers.
Meet the new boss, same as the.... sigh.
Although the rally site itself was peaceful, protesters on a nearby
street tried to break through a concrete barricade guarded by hundreds
of riot police
. Both demonstrators and police hurled tear gas canisters at each other.
It's the same old story at so many protests. Real people are peaceful, and thus government or intelligence agency plants act as agent provocateurs. I've seen it so many times I'm tired of reading and typing about it.
Major General Piya Utayo, a police spokesman, said five officers were
injured. He said 130 demonstrators were detained, some carrying knives
and bullets. Local hospital staff said they treated 45 people and most
had inhaled tear gas.
Carrying bullets but no guns?
Speaking from the rally’s central stage, Boonlert vowed the
demonstration would remain peaceful. But he said: ‘‘I promise that
Pitak Siam will succeed in driving this government out.’’
Police allowed protesters into Royal Plaza, and two roads leading to
it were open. But in an effort to control access, they blocked roads on
another street leading to Royal Plaza.
While Pitak Siam is a newcomer to Thailand’s protest scene, it is
linked to the ‘‘Yellow Shirt’’ protesters, whose rallies led to
Thaksin’s overthrow.
I'm surprised the Globe saw that because they are usually colorblind when it comes to Thailand.
--more--"
