Thai anti-govt protesters clash with police
Spokesman: Large number of protesters tried to break into Government House
BANGKOK: Thai police fired tear gas and detained dozens of demonstrators as clashes erupted at the first major street protests against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s government.
Yesterday’s violence, while relatively small scale, appeared to mark a new phase in Thailand’s long-running political crisis pitting Thai royalists against ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra – Yingluck’s brother – and his supporters.
About 17,000 policemen were deployed for the rally in Bangkok’s historic district, which was organised by the royalist group Pitak Siam (Protecting Siam), a new force in the kingdom’s fractured political scene.
“In the name of Pitak Siam and its allies I promise that we will topple this government,” the movement’s head, retired general Boonlert Kaewprasit, declared from the rally stage.
But the estimated attendance of about 20,000 fell far short of the half a million organisers had hoped for, and by early evening as rain began to fall Boonlert called off the protest, which had been due to last until today.
The demo comes two-and-a-half years after 90 people died and about 1,900 were wounded in a military crackdown on “Red Shirt” protests in the heart of the capital against the previous government, which was replaced by Yingluck’s administration last year.
Thailand has been rocked by a series of sometimes violent rival street protests in recent years, although an uneasy calm had returned after national elections in 2011.
The demonstrators at yesterday’s rally, who included supporters of the influential “Yellow Shirt” royalist movement, called on Yingluck’s government to stand down.
The Red Shirts threatened to strike back in the event of a new coup. This rally is illegitimate,” Red Shirt leader Thida Thavornseth said.
BANGKOK: Police defended the firing of tear gas at the anti-government protesters at two roadblocks here, saying a large number of protesters tried to break into the Government House which is in a restricted area.
Police spokesman Maj Gen Piya Uthayoh said the protesters failed to follow police warnings yesterday and some of them used nippers to cut the barbwire.
“We had no choice but to fire the tear gas at the protesters,” Piya said.
He added that police detained 100 protesters and also confiscated from them knives and 30 bullets of the 38mm-type pistol.
During the confrontation between the protesters and police, 42 people, including seven police officers, were treated for cuts and other injuries, officials said.
Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had on Thursday voiced fears the protesters aimed to use violence and to “overthrow an elected government and democratic rule”.
The government had invoked the Internal Security Act (ISA) in three districts of the capital to cope with possible unrest, giving the police additional powers to block routes, impose a curfew, ban gatherings and carry out searches.
In response, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Thursday that he was confused by the government’s extreme reaction to the planned mass rally.
Abhisit, a former prime minister, said the government was over-portraying the rally at the Royal Plaza as being frightening and full of violence.
“I am very confused by the government’s handling of the rally because if the protest is peaceful and without weapons and violence, the government should facilitate it, as the people have a right to demonstrate in a democracy.
The authorities concerned should also ask for cooperation from the protesters and their leader to conduct the rally in line with the law.
But instead they have repeatedly claimed there will be violence and terrible confrontations. Such claims can only lead to unnecessary tensions and conflicts, Abhisit added. — The Nation / Asia News Network / Agencies