Tens of thousands of red-shirted Thai protesters overran the streets of Bangkok yesterday, swarming into the capital’s tourist heartland in a renewed bid to overthrow the government.
Bemused foreign visitors looked on as the supporters of fugitive former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra occupied a key intersection close to a clutch of five-star hotels, shopping centers and the famous Erawan Shrine.
Despite sweltering temperatures, police estimated that by late morning about 60,000 people had joined the rally, the latest in a series of demonstrations since the middle of last month against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The push into the capital’s tourist center came a day after representatives of the hotel and leisure industries mounted their own counter-rallies, urging an end to turmoil they fear is scaring away visitors.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Yesterday’s protest snarled traffic and forced some shopping malls to close, but tourists caught up in the peaceful rallies seemed largely unfazed.
“I understand what they’re doing. It doesn’t scare me because I come here every year and know it won’t be serious,” said Adolf Gutounik, a 57-year-old visitor from Germany.
Thailand has been wracked in recent years by a string of protests by the Red Shirts and their rival Yellow Shirts, whose campaign in 2008 led to a crippling nine-day blockade of the country’s airports.
“I don’t think most tourists will like it when they come to Bangkok and face this,” said Selina Poh, a 30-year-old from Singapore.
But she added: “I’m not scared of them. I have no idea what is red and what is yellow. I want to visit places in Bangkok.”
The military has mounted a heavy security response involving 50,000 personnel for the protests.
Police were trying to negotiate with protesters to ease traffic gridlock.
“The longer they close the road the more it will dissatisfy people and businesses,” government spokesman Panitan Wattanaygorn said.
The Reds oppose the coup that toppled Thaksin in 2006 and say Abhisit’s government is undemocratic because it took office through a parliamentary vote after a court stripped Thaksin’s allies of power.
Oxford-educated Abhisit has offered to hold elections a year early, at the end of this year. But the Red Shirts, who accuse the government of being elitist and army-backed, want polls called immediately.
“Our patience is running out, but because of our patriotism we must adhere to non-violence,” Red Shirts leader Jatuporn Prompan said.
The Reds said in the run-up to yesterday’s demonstration that it would be the biggest since the rallies began with more than 100,000 protesters on the 14th of last month.
Authorities, however, expected fewer rural Reds to attend the gatherings as the Songkran water festival, which celebrates the traditional Thai New Year, approaches on April 13 to 15.
But Nat Jantakat, a 38-year-old lychee farmer from the north, vowed to keep up the fight, making light of the 37°C temperature.
“I’ve been here since the first day and I’ll be here until we achieve democracy. I don’t mind about Songkran. We have this festival every year ... but democracy can’t wait,” he said.
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