Red Shirts Gather in Bangkok for Coup Anniversary
Thousands of red-shirted supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra have gathered in Bangkok today to mark the third anniversary of the military coup which deposed the Thaksin government. Red shirt protests in April ended in violence but today’s rally, organized by the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), has been peaceful so far. There had been concern that there could be trouble and in response the government deployed soldiers and police to guard key locations and imposed the Internal Security Act in the Dusit area of Bangkok, the site of the red shirt rally.
A thunder-storm may have kept red-shirt numbers down to what police are estimating as 5,000 during the day, but that figure was predicted to swell to at least 20,000 in the evening to listen to a satellite broadcast from Thaksin Shinawatra. The former Thai leader is living in exile and faces jail if he returns to Thailand having been found guilty on corruption charges in his absence.
Thaksin was deposed in September 2006 whilst he was attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Tomorrow, the current prime minister of Thailand, Abhisit Vejjajiva, departs for New York to attend the UN General Assembly. Some local commentators are pointing out the parallels between the two situations and talking up the possibility of another coup. The position of Abhisit was weakened recently following a row with coalition partners over the appointment of a new police chief. With the prime minister due to depart the country, the government and the army have both been quick to dispel rumours of a coup.
The September 2006 coup may have deposed Thaksin Shinawatra from power, but his influence in Thai politics has continued. Most of the red shirts continue to support Thaksin and another red shirt rally is planned for the ASEAN meeting next month in Hua Hin and Cha Am. With possible elections in the New Year, the political problems of Thailand show no signs of abating.
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