Tens of thousands of supporters of deposed Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra streamed through military checkpoints outside the capital yesterday as they headed to a rally aimed at toppling the government.
Thai authorities have deployed a 50,000-strong security force, including soldiers, to patrol the streets and search protesters entering the city, as they fear some could incite trouble ahead of today’s main rally.
Up to 20,000 protesters in their signature red shirts passed through the busiest checkpoint in Ayutthaya, 80km north of Bangkok, yesterday morning, the provincial governor said.
Governor Withaya Pewpong said that another 15,000 Red Shirts, waving red flags and traveling mostly by pick-up truck and car, were expected to enter the city via the northern post, which is manned by 700 unarmed soldiers and police.
“The protesters have been cooperating well with the security officials who are focused on looking for weapons and explosives and checking identity cards,” Withaya said.
Organizers insist the protests will be peaceful, but the government has enacted the strict Internal Security Act to monitor the rally, allowing authorities to set up checkpoints, impose curfews and limit movements.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who has refused to bow to the protesters’ demand to step down and call elections, spoke to reporters after meeting with ministers and top brass at a military barracks yesterday.
“We should not be complacent because there are some groups of people still wanting to create violence and cause confrontations,” said Abhisit, who has canceled a weekend trip to Australia because of the rally.
Around 6,500 protesters attended early demonstrations at several spots in Bangkok on Friday that passed without major incident, police said.
Red Shirt organizers set up a rally stage near government ministry buildings yesterday and police said about 1,000 demonstrators had arrived at the venue ahead of the official start of the rally at midday today.
The government has lowered its estimate of expected turnout at the rally to 70,000, but the Red Shirts say the figure will be nearer 600,000.
The protests come two weeks after Thailand’s top court confiscated US$1.4 billion of Thaksin’s assets, and are the latest chapter in a political crisis that has beset Thailand since Thaksin was toppled in a 2006 coup.
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