BANGKOK, January 09:Tens of thousands of ”red shirt”demonstrators marched in Thailand’s capital today to demand therelease of the movement’s leaders in their first rally since thelifting of an eight-month state of emergency last month.
The protest by about 30,000 people aimed to pressure thegovernment to end what the red shirts say are unlawful detentionsand suppression of dissent in the wake of deadly clashes betweentroops and demonstrators last year.
The latest request for bail for the leaders, charged withterrorism, was denied on Tuesday and the march from two symboliclocations where 91 people were killed and more than 1,800 woundedshowed the movement’s strength had yet to wane.
The mostly rural and urban working-class protesters gathered atDemocracy Monument in Bangkok’s old quarter before moving on footand on motorcycles toward a downtown shopping district which theyhad occupied for seven weeks last April and May.
Troops had forcibly dispersed the demonstrators on May 19,prompting a spree of arson attacks and rioting that marked thecountry’s worst violence in decades.
More than 1,000 police were deployed to maintain security at today’s rally.
The protesters planned to light candles and release thousands ofballoons in memory of those killed during the clashes. The ”redshirts” blame the government and the army for the deaths, which they say have not been properly investigated.
The rally took place at the Ratchaprasong intersection outside Southeast Asia’s second-biggest shopping mall, Central World, ownedby Central Pattana. It was one of several malls and luxury hotels shuttered for weeks and was one of more than 30 commercial buildings set ablaze during last year’s riot.
Analysts say it is likely the red shirts will try to avoid moreclashes to ensure an election Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva haspromised this year can take place.
An immediate election was their key demand during last year’srallies, but the movement’s leaders rejected a government offer of aNovember 2010 poll, saying it was not soon enough.
They are hopeful the opposition Puea Thai party will win most votes in the election and return a government favourable to theousted, twice-elected former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the group’sexiled figurehead.
Abhisit has repeatedly said polls would only be held if thecountry was at peace and has rejected accusations that hisreconciliation efforts are insincere and he and his backers wereseeking to cling on to power.
Abhisit has hinted at May or June as possible period to call elections but others within his ruling Democrat party have held back on their decision to set a date for the polls.
The election is seen as a crucial step towards ending five years of political stalemate, but experts say polls tainted by allegations of fraud or vote-buying and subsequent judicial rulings could lead to prolonged instability in Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy.
——————REUTERS