Thai opponents ready for ‘big battles’
Pro- and anti-government groups in Thailand both have said they will hold huge mass rallies in the coming two weeks after the constitutional court annulled the country’s February 2 general elections, extending the state of political limbo.
Protest movement leader Suthep Taugsuban announced that he and his followers will stage their “biggest rally ever” in Bangkok on March 29, while Red Shirt leader and pro-government proponent Jatuporn Prompan vowed to hold major rallies nationwide on April 5.
The Red Shirts gathered in the tourist beach town of Pattaya on March 22. Organisers said at least 30,000 people showed uo, while police put the number at 10,000. They formed a 5-kilometer carvinal-like parade through the town, inviting people to support democracy and holding placards denouncing independent organisations. They were joined by tourists and students.
Prompan asked the red shirts all over the country to wear black for seven days starting March 23 as a symbolic move against all injustices.
Meanwhile, several bomb explosions in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Chonburi have raised political tensions again after a rather quiet period following the downsizing of the so-called Bangkok shutdown. In the capital, a car bomb went off near an anti-government protest site in Chaeng Watthana early on March 22.
In the northern province of Chiang Mai, three bombs went off in the night of March 21, resulting in four injuries. Shortly after, two grenades were hurled into the office of Boon Rawd Brewery Co in Sarapee district. One of them exploded but the other did not go off. The third bombing happened at 10.15pm in the parking lot of the Andaman Seafood Restaurant. Two cars were damaged and no injuries were reported.
In Chon Buri, two grenades were fired from an M79 launcher near an anti-government rally site Muang district at around the same time. Targets were the municipal office and an education development center.
[caption id="attachment_21820" align="alignleft" width="300"] A car bomb went off in Bangkok on March 22[/caption] Pro- and anti-government groups in Thailand both have said they will hold huge mass rallies in the coming two weeks after the constitutional court annulled the country's February 2 general elections, extending the state of political limbo. Protest movement leader Suthep Taugsuban announced that he and his followers will stage their "biggest rally ever" in Bangkok on March 29, while Red Shirt leader and pro-government proponent Jatuporn Prompan vowed to hold major rallies nationwide on April 5. The Red Shirts gathered in the tourist beach town...
Pro- and anti-government groups in Thailand both have said they will hold huge mass rallies in the coming two weeks after the constitutional court annulled the country’s February 2 general elections, extending the state of political limbo.
Protest movement leader Suthep Taugsuban announced that he and his followers will stage their “biggest rally ever” in Bangkok on March 29, while Red Shirt leader and pro-government proponent Jatuporn Prompan vowed to hold major rallies nationwide on April 5.
The Red Shirts gathered in the tourist beach town of Pattaya on March 22. Organisers said at least 30,000 people showed uo, while police put the number at 10,000. They formed a 5-kilometer carvinal-like parade through the town, inviting people to support democracy and holding placards denouncing independent organisations. They were joined by tourists and students.
Prompan asked the red shirts all over the country to wear black for seven days starting March 23 as a symbolic move against all injustices.
Meanwhile, several bomb explosions in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Chonburi have raised political tensions again after a rather quiet period following the downsizing of the so-called Bangkok shutdown. In the capital, a car bomb went off near an anti-government protest site in Chaeng Watthana early on March 22.
In the northern province of Chiang Mai, three bombs went off in the night of March 21, resulting in four injuries. Shortly after, two grenades were hurled into the office of Boon Rawd Brewery Co in Sarapee district. One of them exploded but the other did not go off. The third bombing happened at 10.15pm in the parking lot of the Andaman Seafood Restaurant. Two cars were damaged and no injuries were reported.
In Chon Buri, two grenades were fired from an M79 launcher near an anti-government rally site Muang district at around the same time. Targets were the municipal office and an education development center.
