THAILAND: Thousands of red shirt supporters converge in Bangkok on the eve of a planned government facilities seizure by protesters

Record ID: 214113

  • Title: THAILAND: Thousands of red shirt supporters converge in Bangkok on the eve of a planned government facilities seizure by protesters
  • Date: 30th November 2013
  • Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (NOVEMBER 30, 2013) (REUTERS) RED SHIRTS SUPPORTERS ARRIVING AT RATCHAMANGALA STADIUM RED SHIRTS ARRIVING RED SHIRTS WALKING WAVING FLAGS VARIOUS PHOTOS OF THAKSIN AND YINGLUCK ON POSTER/ RED SHIRTS WALK PASSING THE POSTER RED SHIRTS INSIDE STADIUM VARIOUS OF CROWD IN STADIUM VARIOUS OF A RED SHIRT COUPLES SITTING ON GROUND CLAPPING TO MUSIC POSTER ON TOP OF STADIUM WITH SUTHEP THAUGSUBAN'S PHOTO AND "STOP HIJACKING THAILAND" (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) RED SHIRTS SUPPORTER, NICKNAMED MOD DANG, SAYING; "There's no way to dissolve the house of representatives. The best solution is that you (Suthep) should negotiate to the government. Suthep, you should stop your mob and talk to the government." RED SHIRTS MEMBERS CHEERING MORE OF RED SHIRTS CROWD
  • Embargoed: 15th December 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA9JAK0RN3E1LJ9FNMH4RQGEN40
  • Story Text: Thousands of red shirt government supporters gathered in a Bangkok stadium on Saturday (November 30) to show their support of embattled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
    Their rally, scheduled to gain momentum after nightfall, comes on the eve of a planned seizure of government facilities by anti-government protesters.
    As thousands of largely middle-class Thais flood Bangkok streets in protests aimed at overthrowing the government of populist Yingluck, one volatile factor has been largely absent from the streets: the red-shirted protesters who helped bring her to power.
    But in the background, the red shirts remain a potent force, despite being hobbled by a bitterly divided leadership and the atrophy that comes with more than two years of their side being in power.
    "There's no way to dissolve the house of representatives. The best solution is that you (Suthep) should negotiate to the government. Suthep, you should stop your mob and talk to the government," said a red shirt supporter nicknamed Mod Dang.
    In interviews with Reuters, red-shirt leaders and members said they are avoiding direct confrontation with anti-government protesters, which would likely provoke bloodshed. But they said they are marshalling their forces, just in case.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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