- Title: THAILAND: Protesters flood Bangkok streets while police investigates bomb blast
- Date: 21st March 2010
- Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (MARCH 20, 2010) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS ON STREET PROTESTERS HITTING DRUMS VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS ON MOTORCYCLE PROTESTERS CLAPPING VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHEERING ON STREET PROTESTERS ON AUTO RICKSHAW PROTESTERS' LEADER ON PICK-UP TRUCK VARIOUS OF POLICE GUARDING ON STREET PEOPLE LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) BANGKOK RESIDENT, BHUMIN HOMSILPAKUL,
- Embargoed: 5th April 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Thailand
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA4PEERJGEGU8F229ANR74GVDXU
- Story Text: Thousands of opposition activists fanned out across Thailand's capital on Saturday (March 20) in a bid to win the hearts of Bangkok's middle classes and recruit them for their anti-government campaign.
The red-shirted supporters of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra moved through city districts, handing out leaflets saying "We love Bangkokians" and calling on urban sympathisers to join their push for new elections.
Wearing trademark red shirts, honking horns, singing songs and waving red flags, protesters on motorcycles and aboard pickup trucks drove slowly in the 13-km (8-mile) long procession that paralysed traffic in the city whose residents are mostly allied with Prime Minister Avhisit Vejjajiva.
Some residents in Bangkok said they did not agree for the city-wide rally.
"The protests should be in limited areas in order not to disturb other people. They should have given a specific time to the government," said Bhumin Homsilpakul.
The rally got under way at 10 a.m. (0300 GMT), with organisers planning to cover about 46 km and finish at around 6 p.m. (1100 GMT) More protesters travelled from across the country to reinforce their comrades who have been camping out near the Government House after the government rejected to meet their demands.
The week-long mass rally, which drew up to 150,000 people last Sunday (March 14), has so far been peaceful, boosting investor sentiment and helping to lift Thai stocks to a 20-month high.
Although fatigue and the sizzling sun has persuaded many protesters to return to their rural provinces, tens of thousands have remained in the capital for a rally leaders said would continue for at least another two weeks.
The "red shirts" say big businessmen, royal advisers, army generals and court judges have colluded to undermine elected governments, and want people in the city of 15 million to join their rally and help return power to the people.
They say the Oxford-educated Abhisit, who enjoys the backing of an influential establishment elite and the politically potent military, is illegitimate and should step down.
They believe that by broadening their support base, the mostly grassroots movement stands a better chance of prolonging the rally and bringing down the government.
Many in the capital remain staunchly opposed to Thaksin, a former telecommunications tycoon derided by opponents as a corrupt autocrat who abused power to enrich his family business.
The city-wide march aims to draw in more supporters but many of the residents in Bangkok said it will only worsen the situation.
"This sort of action will not get any better. It will not help the situation. It will just create more conflict," said Chatree Chanthorn.
Since the start of the protest, three grenades have exploded at a Bankok army base, wounding two soldiers while another molotov cocktail was hurled at a military base. But it was unclear is they were all connected to the rally.
On Saturday early morning, police said someone threw a bomb at the school under the foundation of Privy Council Chairman Prem Tinsulanonda (pron: Prem Tin-su-la-non), the king's closest aide.
Police said the case is under investigation but could not confirm whether the attack was linked to the rally.
The protesters accused Prem masterminded the coup that removed Thaksin in 2006.
Thaksin lives in self-imposed exile, mostly in Dubai, and has delivered rousing video-link addresses to the "red shirts", many of whom brought him two landslide election wins and remain loyal because of his populist policies. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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