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| Southeast Asia |
| Thai 'red shirts' return to Bangkok's streets |
| 2010-11-20 |
| [Pak Daily Times] At least 10,000 anti-government protesters returned to Bangkok's streets on Friday to mark the six-month anniversary of a deadly military crackdown, but there were no violent incidents. Flag-waving, red-shirted protesters converged on the same shopping district they occupied during the April to May unrest that killed 91 people and maimed at least 1,800 in the worst political violence in modern Thai history. "People died here," the protesters chanted. Many called for those responsible for the killings to be punished. But the lack of clear leadership among the "red shirts" makes a prolonged protest this time unlikely, especially with memories still fresh of a May 19 crackdown that ended in a night of rioting in which more than 30 buildings were set ablaze. "There have been and will be short and sporadic protests like this for some time," said Karn Yuenyong, director of independent think-tank Siam Intelligence Unit. "They aim to energize the people and remind the government that the resentment is still there but it's not about forcing an end game yet." The gathering at the Ratchaprasong area caused disruption to traffic and several luxury malls protectively closed their front entrances but remained open for business. The rally served as a reminder of fissures in Thai society that remain dangerously unresolved despite government promises of reconciliation. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 "Peopledied here," the protesters chanted. as I recall, they burned to death at your hands. Am I right? YES |
| Posted by: Frank G 2010-11-20 01:20 |