Street protests resume in Bangkok
Thousands of people took to the streets of Bangkok on December 19 in a new wave of protests against the Shinawatra government. Waving flag and blowing whistles, the protesters once again brought traffic to a halt on main roads, causing massive congestion.
The protesters, led by anti-government strongman Suthep Thaugsuban, began their march in the morning at Ratchadamnoen Avenue in the main shopping and business district and went on via New Petchaburi Road to Asok Junction, which lies in the heart of Bangkok’s tourism and office area, rising concerns that the marches will deal another blow to the already shrinking foreign visitor numbers to Bangkok. In the early afternoon, they continued to march down Sukhumvit Road towards Siam Square along the main expat quarters, blocking the cities main traffic artery, and then headed to their main base at Democracy Monument.
The protesters handed over leaflets to the public explaining that they want political reforms before the snap elections on February 2 and insisted on caretaker prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down.
Meanwhile, Yingluck was avoiding Bangkok and touring the country’s rural northeast per railway where her party has a strong backing. However, she had to divert her route several times as anti-government protesters were waiting for her at some train stations to blow whistles on her, creating a tense atmosphere. Some 50 police were providing security for her.
[caption id="attachment_18929" align="alignleft" width="187"] New Petchburi Road blocked by anti-government protesters in Bangkok on December 19 (Photo: Arno Maierbrugger)[/caption] Thousands of people took to the streets of Bangkok on December 19 in a new wave of protests against the Shinawatra government. Waving flag and blowing whistles, the protesters once again brought traffic to a halt on main roads, causing massive congestion. The protesters, led by anti-government strongman Suthep Thaugsuban, began their march in the morning at Ratchadamnoen Avenue in the main shopping and business district and went on via New Petchaburi Road to Asok Junction, which lies in the heart of...
Thousands of people took to the streets of Bangkok on December 19 in a new wave of protests against the Shinawatra government. Waving flag and blowing whistles, the protesters once again brought traffic to a halt on main roads, causing massive congestion.
The protesters, led by anti-government strongman Suthep Thaugsuban, began their march in the morning at Ratchadamnoen Avenue in the main shopping and business district and went on via New Petchaburi Road to Asok Junction, which lies in the heart of Bangkok’s tourism and office area, rising concerns that the marches will deal another blow to the already shrinking foreign visitor numbers to Bangkok. In the early afternoon, they continued to march down Sukhumvit Road towards Siam Square along the main expat quarters, blocking the cities main traffic artery, and then headed to their main base at Democracy Monument.
The protesters handed over leaflets to the public explaining that they want political reforms before the snap elections on February 2 and insisted on caretaker prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down.
Meanwhile, Yingluck was avoiding Bangkok and touring the country’s rural northeast per railway where her party has a strong backing. However, she had to divert her route several times as anti-government protesters were waiting for her at some train stations to blow whistles on her, creating a tense atmosphere. Some 50 police were providing security for her.
