Thai “Red shirts” hold massive demonstration
“Red Shirt” demonstrators held a huge
gathering in Bangkok on March 12 to mark one year since protests
turned violence, killing some 90 people.
Police
estimated 10,000 “Red Shirt” demonstrators flocked to the Democracy
Monument on Ratchadamnern street , adjacent to the political and
administrative centre of Thailand . Some out-on-bail leaders of the
United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), which leads the
movement, also took part in the demonstration.
Police predicted some 40,000 would join the gathering with the number to
surge in the evening as many expect “Red Shirt” leaders to deliver
speeches and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to give a
video-link address.
The rally is believed to be
the largest held by the “Red Shirt” since May, 2010, when the Government
sent troops to end the prolonged protests. After the crack-down, 19 UDD
leaders were arrested on charges of terrorism.
Some 3,500 police have moved in streets around the Red Shirts’ rally.
Deputy Prime Minister in charge of security Suthep Thaugsuban said
police are able to keep security and will be backed by stand-by military
just in case. He added this “Red Shirt” demonstration could not prolong
as Thai people are looking forwards to a general election expected to
take place by late June or early July.
Thai Prime
Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced on March 11 that he would dismiss
the lower house in the first week of May, making the general election to
get its way ahead of schedule.
Thai law rules
that general elections must be held within 45-60 days after the lower
house is dismissed. If the lower house is dismissed early May, the
general election will take place late June or early July./.