THAILAND: Curfew starts in Bangkok after anti-coup protesters scuffle with the military

Record ID: 695279

  • Title: THAILAND: Curfew starts in Bangkok after anti-coup protesters scuffle with the military
  • Date: 24th May 2014
  • Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (MAY 24, 2014) (REUTERS) (NIGHTSHOTS) VARIOUS OF CARS GOING PAST VICTORY MONUMENT PEOPLE STANDING MAN WITH TORN T-SHIRT BEING WALKING OUT VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING DOWN STAIRS VARIOUS OF VENDORS SELLING ON STREET / PEOPLE BUYING (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) CD VENDOR AT VICTORY MONUMENT, DUEAN PRASITNOK, SAYING: "For sure there is big impact (due to the curfew). My business is quiet. I sell less than I used to, but what can we do? It is quiet." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GETTING ON BUSES VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WAITING FOR BUS (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE, CHUMPON DAENGSAKUL, SAYING: "If the protest continues, we are not sure what is going to happen. There might be some violence or the situation can escalate. I think a curfew is a good thing for now, for the current situation." BANGKOK STREET AFTER CURFEW STARTS
  • Embargoed: 8th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA1L8P1TR50KKCXCZCNJLGX4JC3
  • Story Text: Activity on Bangkok streets wound down on Saturday (May 24) as the curfew set in after a day of demonstrations by anti-coup protesters.
    Groups of protesters defying a ban by the military on meetings of more than five people, scuffled with soldiers in various parts of the capital, as they rallied, calling for the military takeover to end and elections be held.
    The protests come as instigator of the putsch, General Prayuth Chan-ocha detained ousted prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her aides on Friday (May 23) as well as key political leaders on Thursday (May 22) as the coup was launched.
    Military officials have said they would be released in a week.
    On the streets, people had mixed opinions about the 10:00 pm to 5:00am curfew imposed by the government.
    "For sure there is big impact (due to the curfew). My business is quiet. I sell less than I used to, but what can we do? It is quiet," said CD vendor Duean Prasitnok at Victory Monument.
    Others thought the curfew was necessary.
    "If the protest continues, we are not sure what is going to happen. There might be some violence or the situation can escalate. I think a curfew is a good thing for now, for the current situation," said government employee Chumpon Daengsakul.
    On Sunday, the military will hold meetings with newspaper editors to discuss the takeover.
    Anti-coup protesters have said they plan to hold more demonstrations in various parts of Bangkok.
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