Red Shirt supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra gather during an anti-government protest at central world junction in Bangkok. Raising the stakes in their bid to overthrow the government, tens of thousands of Thai protesters swarmed Bangkok's tourist heartland, prompting an official warning to leave or face arrest. (AFP/Athit Perawongmetha)
via CAAI News Media
by Thanaporn Promyamyai Thanaporn Promyamyai – Sat Apr 3
BANGKOK (AFP) – Raising the stakes in their bid to overthrow the government, tens of thousands of Thai protesters swarmed Bangkok's tourist heartland Saturday, defying a warning to leave or face arrest.
Bemused foreigners looked on as the red-shirted supporters of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra overran a swathe of central Bangkok home to five-star hotels and major shopping centres.
The government said it would officially ban protests from 9:00 pm (1400 GMT) in the area under a tough security law introduced in response to rolling demonstrations which began in mid-March.
Protesters would be asked to leave or face prosecution because of the damage to businesses and tourism, said government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn.
"The government has no alternative except to enforce the law," he said.
But the protesters ignored the deadline, vowing to stay put indefinitely until embattled Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolves parliament.
"If the government has ill intentions against Red Shirts we're ready to respond. The Red Shirts will not step back," Reds leader Veera Musikapong said.
Despite sweltering temperatures, police estimated that about 60,000 people joined the protest -- the latest in a series of demonstrations since mid-March demanding Abhisit call snap elections.
"They are provoking the authorities to use force to disperse them," Abhisit said at a news conference.
He said the government hoped to end the standoff through dialogue but refused to rule out invoking emergency rule -- which would ban gatherings of more than five people -- if the situation worsens.
Saturday's protest snarled traffic and forced some shopping malls and stores to close, but tourists seemed largely unfazed by the rally, which had a carnival-like atmosphere with dancing and live music in the streets.
"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.
The military has mounted a heavy security response involving 50,000 personnel for the protests.
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.
Thaksin, a billionaire former telecoms tycoon who lives abroad to avoid a jail term for graft at home, addressed the protesters via a videolink, urging them not to back down.
"All people in Bangkok as well as the provinces please come out ... to fight for equality," he said. "Victory belongs not only to the Red Shirts but the entire Thai nation."
The Reds had vowed that Saturday's rally would be the biggest since the demonstrations began on March 14 with a turnout of 100,000.
Authorities, however, expect attendance at the rallies to dwindle as the Songkran water festival, celebrating the traditional Thai new year, approaches in mid-April.
But Nat Jantakat, a 38-year-old lychee farmer from the north, for one vowed to keep up the fight, making light of the 37 degrees Celsius (99 Fahrenheit) temperature.
"I've been here since the first day and I'll be here until we achieve democracy."
The Reds have staged a series of dramatic stunts to press their demands, including throwing their own blood at Abhisit's offices.
Hailing mainly from the rural poor north, they seek the return of twice-elected Thaksin. The Reds rioted in Bangkok in April last year, leaving two dead and scores injured.
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