Thousands of Thais mark anniversary of Bangkok protest

Mar 12, 2011, 10:41 GMT

Bangkok - Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters massed in Bangkok Saturday to mark the anniversary of last year's demonstration the left about 90 people dead and up to 2,000 injured.

About 30,000 so-called 'red shirts' gathered at Democracy Monument in the old part of the capital to commemorate last year's 69-day protest that started on March 12, police estimated.

The protest, led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), began peacefully last year but took a violent turn on April 10, when troops were sent in to disperse demonstrators who were demanding that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolve parliament and call a new election.

By the end of the demonstration, parts of Bangkok had been turned in to a war zone, buildings were on fire and at least 91 were dead, including 11 police and military officers.

Most the UDD leadership surrendered on May 19. Seven of the top protest leaders, who face terrorism and other charges, were released late last month.

'We're happy to be out,' said Weng Pochilakarn, one of the UDD leaders.

He commended Abhisit for announcing Friday that he expected to dissolve parliament in the first week of May, and hold elections as early as June.

But Weng warned the military not to interfere in the electoral process again.

'If there is another coup, not only the red shirts but all Thai people will stand up to oppose it,' Weng said.

Thailand has experienced 18 coup in the past 79 years, the most recent of which was in September 19, 2006, which toppled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Although he has been in self-exile since 2008 to avoid a two-year prison sentence for abuse of power, Thaksin - a former billionaire telecommunications tycoon - remains the de facto leader of the UDD and the Puea Thai opposition party.

The party is expected to capture at least half of the seats in the next election, partly because of growing dissatisfaction with the economy.

'This government is shameless,' said Sorasak Chapalat, a 67-year-old farmer from Ubon Ratchasima province.

'They say the economy is doing well but that's a lie. Go look at Ubon. Business is terrible and prices are going up every day.'

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