Thailand: Return of the Red Shirts -- big protests mark massacre anniversary
A huge crowd mobilised at Ratchaprasong Intersection to mark four months since the May 19 massacre of pro-democracy protesters. Video by Richard Barrow.
By Thailand Troubles and Peter Boyle
September 19, 2010 -- While a motorcade of 150 vehicles made their way from Bangkok to Chiangmai for a rally of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), popularly known as the Red Shirts, expected to draw 10,000, a growing crowd of Red Shirts gathered since morning around Ratchaprasong Intersection, the site of the April-May mass protest camp of Red Shirts that was bloodily repressed by the military on May 19. Ninety-one people were killed and thousands were wounded. Hundreds of Red Shirts remain in detention. There were also protests around the world (reports will be posted in the comments section below, as they come to hand).
When many thousands openly protest their support for a cause labelled terrorist by a government willing to use deadly force to suppress those who question its writ it is hard not to conclude that the spirit of the movement is far from broken.
The Red Shirt movement demonstrated that this afternoon and evening when they turned Ratchaprasong, site of a two-month sit-in protest that was finally brought to an end by troops using deadly force on the May 19, 2010, into a sea of red once again, evoking the heady days of March, April and May. The graffiti, handwritten notices and banners were defiant, angry and confident, a mix of accusations and condemnation, demands and questions. The mood was joyful with singing and cheering, clapping and dancing. But amid the smiles, the feelings of solidarity, were not a few faces sad and serious. As ever people were polite and courteous, talking eagerly with new acquaintances.
These pictures relayed by Rajprasong News via Twitter, and from Thailand's Troubles blog that follow, tell the story of the gathering crowd in Bangkok.
Road filled up!
14:38 Crowds of more than 5000 now occupying Ratchaprasong.
16:39
Crowd now in "tens of thousands".
According to Rajprasong News the police estimated the crowd as 10,000 at 4pm, but other estimates were higher, especially leading up to 5pm.
4 years 4 months
September 19, 2010 -- Thailand's Troubles -- Today was for the Red movement a commemoration of those killed on the May 19, 2010, by troops under the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva, of the rather misnamed Democrat Party, and the coup of September 19, 2006, when the elected government of Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted by troops serving the interests of an elite cabal which eventually engineered the government led by Abhisit.
His government has since the bloody day of 19 May made much of reconciliation and harmony but done precious little for justice. The arrogance, disdain and ignorance showed by him and those he represents and is associated with does not bode well for the future of Thailand. If there is any need of the reminder of the depth of feelings, the frustration and anger it comes no larger than the charred wreck at CentralWorld Mall and its Zen Tower, which were torched in a final spontaneous act of defiance by the remnants of the protest a few hours before sunset on May 19.
Today's protest took place beneath that 19-story exclamation mark.
The government insists people of the Red movement simply don't understand. The government is right. People don't understand. They don't understand why they should accept double standards. They don't understand why they should be denied justice. They don't understand why their choice at the ballot box should be annulled by the power of an unelected minority. They don't understand how they can be citizens of Thailand if their voice expressed at the ballot box is silenced by those who will talk electoral politics but when it doesn't go their way will walk the way of the gun.
The government, for now, appears to be in a stronger position. It may
hang on for a very long time. It will probably find a way to delay and
evade holding an election. Or the end may come rather sooner. Even the
strongest regimes can turn out to be brittle when many people stand up
in public to say enough. The fall of autocratic states in Europe in 1989
culminating with the collapse of the Soviet Union is an example of what
can happen. Alternatively, if rulers and their acolytes and supporters
decide to resist matters may take a nastier turn as they did in China
and Indochina during the 20th century and in various European states
starting with France in 1789. What will follow in Thailand is anybody's
guess but it would be brave person who would bet on the status quo.
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Red Thai Australia, Sydney Town Hall, September 19
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Red Shirts Rally in Hamburg, Thaksin Phones In
NOTE: The author is NOT affiliated with the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and it’s affiliated supporter groups or any other political group of any kind.
September 18, 2010 -- Around 120 Thai anti-government protesters from various European countries have gathered on Saturday in the German city of Hamburg to commemorate the forth-year anniversary of the military coup in Thailand and the four-month anniversary of the military crackdown against anti-government protesters in Bangkok.
The participants in this political protest, coming from Germany, France, Denmark and Belgium, are sympathizers of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), also known as “red shirts”, a political pressure group demanding the current Thai government to step down and call for new elections, justice for the 91 victims during the anti-government protests earlier this year among other various demands. Many of them are supporters of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been toppled in said coup in 2006.
The atmosphere was largely jubilant, even though short bursts of the typical Northern German rain showers have interrupted the rally for a short period of time. Over amplifiers the protesters have made their stance over the current Thai political situation. Despite some announcements in German, most contributions over the loudspeakers were made in Thai, leaving many Hamburg onlookers asking what this event was all about.
Part of the rally was a phone-in by Thaksin, who thanked all European red shirts for the support and was overall in a conciliatory tone. He said that misunderstanding has to led conflicts and divisions among Thai people. “Today I think all sides should stop looking after themselves and look forward, no matter if they were wrong or not, and move towards each other”, he said, “Bring back unity, bring back joy to the Thai people and let’s make our country stronger.” He continued: “The four months [since the protests' end in May] where people have killed each other, the four years [since the coup] where people made each other’s lives difficult – they should come to an end.” Thaksin further states that “today should be a day where we think about the mistakes made in the past and we should resolve them.”
When asked by the supporters what he thinks about reconciliation he answered: “Reconciliation means to approach each other [...] and help together to move the country forward. No more yellow, no more red! But all things that were done wrong should face justice. [...] Also, there should be elections so that the people can vote their own government.” Thaksin also claimed that the current political situation in Thailand “can’t sustain itself for much longer.” Thaksin’s phone-in was cut short after nearly 11 minutes when the power generator ran out of fuel.
Listen to the full recording of Thaksin’s phone-in here (MP3)
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Red London, September 19, 2010
London, September 19, 2010. Photos by Wanpen Hedges.
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