Yesterday saw some of the worst violence in Thailand since last years Military Coup. The next part was taken from a news service off the internet, they can say these things better than I can."BANGKOK, Thailand—Anti-government leaders said Monday they would continue their protests, despite facing potential criminal charges after a weekend demonstration turned into a riot that left 270 people injured.
About 200 policemen and 70 protesters were injured in clashes Sunday night when several thousand people demonstrated outside the Bangkok home of former Prime Minister Perm Tinsulanonda, said police chief Lt. Gen. Adisorn Nontree.
The protesters accuse Prem of instigating a coup last year that ousted the elected government of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. They demand that he resign as top adviser to King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Prem, 86, is also a former army commander respected by many in the military, including the group that staged last year's coup. He was at home during Sunday's tumult.
The protest, the latest in a series, came as Thailand prepares for the restoration of electoral democracy by the end of the year. A new military-backed draft constitution will be submitted to a national referendum in August, and national elections are expected in December.
Police filed charges against an alleged ringleader and five other people accused of involvement in the violence, which came at a protest whose leaders were mostly former top members of Thaksin's now-disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party.
The suspects were charged with "causing chaos, obstructing the work of authorities, and damage of state property, and they include a protest leader, Noparut Worachitwutikul," police Col. Supisan Pakdeenarunart told The Associated Press.
"This is not the end, and we will continue to fight for democracy until they step down," protest leader Jakrapob Penkair said, referring to the military chiefs who led the coup.
Protest leaders said they would file assault complaints against the police.
Sunday night's street-fighting began when police tried to detain protest leaders but were forced back by the crowd. Sporadic charges by police using pepper spray set off street fighting and wild chases.
The military-installed government that replaced Thaksin's after the Sept. 19 coup originally met with public favor, but its popularity has declined and there have been increasing calls for a relaxation of its political and social restrictions.
Thaksin, in exile since the coup, called on supporters to remain peaceful.
"Reconciliation is what I expect to see this government to put more effort for," he told reporters in Hong Kong."
About 200 policemen and 70 protesters were injured in clashes Sunday night when several thousand people demonstrated outside the Bangkok home of former Prime Minister Perm Tinsulanonda, said police chief Lt. Gen. Adisorn Nontree.
The protesters accuse Prem of instigating a coup last year that ousted the elected government of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. They demand that he resign as top adviser to King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Prem, 86, is also a former army commander respected by many in the military, including the group that staged last year's coup. He was at home during Sunday's tumult.
The protest, the latest in a series, came as Thailand prepares for the restoration of electoral democracy by the end of the year. A new military-backed draft constitution will be submitted to a national referendum in August, and national elections are expected in December.
Police filed charges against an alleged ringleader and five other people accused of involvement in the violence, which came at a protest whose leaders were mostly former top members of Thaksin's now-disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party.
The suspects were charged with "causing chaos, obstructing the work of authorities, and damage of state property, and they include a protest leader, Noparut Worachitwutikul," police Col. Supisan Pakdeenarunart told The Associated Press.
"This is not the end, and we will continue to fight for democracy until they step down," protest leader Jakrapob Penkair said, referring to the military chiefs who led the coup.
Protest leaders said they would file assault complaints against the police.
Sunday night's street-fighting began when police tried to detain protest leaders but were forced back by the crowd. Sporadic charges by police using pepper spray set off street fighting and wild chases.
The military-installed government that replaced Thaksin's after the Sept. 19 coup originally met with public favor, but its popularity has declined and there have been increasing calls for a relaxation of its political and social restrictions.
Thaksin, in exile since the coup, called on supporters to remain peaceful.
"Reconciliation is what I expect to see this government to put more effort for," he told reporters in Hong Kong."
Once again Thailand is in the news, and once again not for the right reason.
No comments:
Post a Comment