Bangkok: 150,000 march against government (photo update)
An estimated 150,000 people took to the streets on December 9 in the “final battle” against the Shinawatra government. The marches were so far peaceful and very few police could be seen near and inside the Government House complex in downtown Bangkok. There were also no more concrete barricades or fences, just closed gates.
After Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra dissolved the parliament on December 9 in the morning, The government said it has proposed new national elections be held on February 2. Opposition lawmakers resigned en masse from parliament on December 8, deepening the political deadlock.
However, protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban was not satisfied with the results and said he will “keep on fighting.” There was no involvement by the army so far.
The protests had severe impact on business life in the city. Shopping malls had to be repeatedly closed, and protesters for the first time started to march through the Ploenchit-Sukhumvit area, a main shopping and tourism hotspot in Bangkok which has been spared from protests up to now. Due to the traffic gridlock, it took travelers four hours to reach the main international airport, Suvarnabhumi. The retail and hotel sectors are worried to face the possibility of having to cancel Christmas and New Year celebrations.
An estimated 150,000 people took to the streets on December 9 in the "final battle" against the Shinawatra government. The marches were so far peaceful and very few police could be seen near and inside the Government House complex in downtown Bangkok. There were also no more concrete barricades or fences, just closed gates. After Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra dissolved the parliament on December 9 in the morning, The government said it has proposed new national elections be held on February 2. Opposition lawmakers resigned en masse from parliament on December 8, deepening the political deadlock. However, protest leader Suthep...
An estimated 150,000 people took to the streets on December 9 in the “final battle” against the Shinawatra government. The marches were so far peaceful and very few police could be seen near and inside the Government House complex in downtown Bangkok. There were also no more concrete barricades or fences, just closed gates.
After Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra dissolved the parliament on December 9 in the morning, The government said it has proposed new national elections be held on February 2. Opposition lawmakers resigned en masse from parliament on December 8, deepening the political deadlock.
However, protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban was not satisfied with the results and said he will “keep on fighting.” There was no involvement by the army so far.
The protests had severe impact on business life in the city. Shopping malls had to be repeatedly closed, and protesters for the first time started to march through the Ploenchit-Sukhumvit area, a main shopping and tourism hotspot in Bangkok which has been spared from protests up to now. Due to the traffic gridlock, it took travelers four hours to reach the main international airport, Suvarnabhumi. The retail and hotel sectors are worried to face the possibility of having to cancel Christmas and New Year celebrations.
