THAILAND: Security is tight in Bangkok as anti-government protestors prepare a mass rally

Record ID: 212739

  • Title: THAILAND: Security is tight in Bangkok as anti-government protestors prepare a mass rally
  • Date: 20th September 2009
  • Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (SEPTEMBER 19, 2009) (REUTERS) SECURITY CHECK POINT AROUND RALLY VENUE MILITARY PERSONNEL LOOKING ON AT CHECK POINT VARIOUS OF BUDDHIST MONKS COLLECTING ALMS POLICE ON GUARD OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT HOUSE MORE OF POLICE POLICE TRUCK ARRIVING AT ROYAL PLAZA, RALLY GATHERING POINT VARIOUS OF RED SHIRT SUPPORTERS ARRIVING AT ROYAL PLAZA WIDE OF MAKESHIFT STAGE WHERE RED SHIRT SUPPORTERS ARE SEATED POSTER OF FORMER PRIME MINISTER THAKSIN SHINAWATRA RED SHIRT SUPPORTER LOOKING ON PLACARD RED SHIRT SUPPORTERS EATING BREAKFAST MORE OF RED SHIRT SUPPORTERS SITTING EXTERIOR OF STREET OUTSIDE PRIVY COUNCIL RESIDENCE SECURITY GUARDING OUTSIDE PRIVY COUNCIL RESIDENCE
  • Embargoed: 5th October 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA9BYUITDXJE3A830HXNQCIJ2SX
  • Story Text: Security is tight in Bangkok as the anti-government protestors hold mass rally to commemorate the third anniversary of the 2006 coup and the government imposes the Internal Security Act around the rally venue.
    Security was tight in Bangkok on Saturday (September 19) as anti-government protestors prepared to hold a mass rally on the third anniversary of the 2006 military coup.
    The government imposed the Internal Security Act around the rally venue and from early morning, military checkpoints had been set up as well as barricades to contain any potential violence.
    Thousands of police and military personnel in anti-riot gear secured the area.
    The "red-shirt" protestors, travelling from across the country, plan to gather at the Royal Plaza before marching to the King's advisor's residence in the afternoon.
    The demonstration falls on the third anniversary of the 2006 military coup which ousted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The King's advisor is believed to have masterminded the coup.
    Thaksin won landslide election victories in 2001 and 2005 but was overthrown in the coup.
    The former prime minister was convicted last year by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on conflict of interest charges in relation to a land purchase scandal.
    Earlier in the year, hundreds of red shirt protestors stormed an Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting in the Thai beach resort Pattaya. The protest spread to Bangkok where troops were called in to bring Thaksin supporters under control and to remove them from Government House which they had been occupying for months.
    In August, supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra submitted a petition, requesting a royal pardon for the fugitive politicians including Thaksin and his former party members, but a pardon has not been granted.
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