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Thai protesters’ blockade shuts down parliament

Thai anti-government protesters form a human roadblock on a road leading to parliament during a mass rally in Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. PHOTO: AP

Thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of the Thai capital yesterday, forcing parliament to shut down in what activists called their “final showdown” to oust an allegedly corrupt administration.

A sea of demonstrators wearing yellow to symbolize their loyalty to the king spread out through the streets of Bangkok, with armed activists even hijacking four passenger buses to use as roadblocks against the police.

One bus was recaptured after police shot out a tire, but the other three remained in the hands of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), police and transport officials said.

Parliament postponed a joint session of both houses after protesters surrounded its gates and reportedly cut electricity to the building. House Speaker Chai Chidchob said the session would be rescheduled “when the situation returns to normal.”

Despite fiery declarations that yesterday’s action would be their “longest day,” a PAD leader told followers to step up their protest efforts today.

“Tomorrow is going to be more intense,” Chamlong Srimuang said to supporters at the group’s stronghold at the prime minister’s office, which it has occupied since late August. “We request that you sleep well tonight to save your energy.”

Riot police early yesterday had barricaded parliament with metal barriers and stood guard inside the compound.

Protest leaders say their goal is to block the government from functioning. They called the protest to block parliament from debating constitutional amendments that they say would help former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra stage a comeback.

“This is the final showdown,” protest leader Somsak Kosaisuk told the crowd.

The last time the group marched on parliament, police efforts to disperse them with tear gas resulted in running street battles. Two people were killed and hundreds injured in the Oct. 7 violence.

Yesterday, riot police carrying shields and batons yielded whenever protesters pushed hard.

By evening, the numbers of protesters increased to several thousand at the airport, where a group of them attacked a senior police officer, throwing bottles at him, pushing him until he fell, and kicking him while he was down. He was rescued by fellow officers.
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