Posted: 20 May 2007 2328 hrs
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Anti-coup protesters, wearing T-shirts supporting ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra. |
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BANGKOK : Up to 3,000 people took to the streets of Bangkok on
Sunday to protest against Thailand’s military-installed government and
call for early elections in the kingdom, organisers and the police
said.
The demonstrators, who were rallying against a coup last September,
gathered at Sanam Luang plaza in central Bangkok in the early evening
before peacefully marching to the Democracy Monument a few kilometres
away.
“The demonstration is to show that we do not agree with coup and to
kick out the junta,” said one of the rally’s organisers, Nattawut
Saikuar, who is a supporter of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
He urged the military-installed government to hold elections as
early as possible. The government has promised polls for the end of the
year.
Nattawut said 5,000 people joined the demonstration, but police estimated the figure at about 3,000.
Police major general Manit Wongsomboon said that 600 police
officers were posted at Sanam Luang, while 300 police stood guard at
the Democracy Monument.
Nobody was arrested and there was no violence, he said.
Sunday’s protest came as Thai authorities appeared to be cracking
down on dissent, detaining three supporters of Thaksin on Friday and
closing three radio stations that broadcast statements by the ousted
leader.
Demonstrations against the government are also becoming more
frequent, with a similar protest at the end of April attracting at
least 4,000 people.
The protest movement is also beginning to create an odd coalition
of allies, with some pro-democracy groups, which last year demonstrated
against Thaksin, now joining forces with his allies in protesting
against the government.
- AFP/de
Thousands protest against Thai junta
