Thailand's Red Shirts To Step Up Activities: New Head

[webfact]

Thailand's Red Shirts to step up activities: new head

BANGKOK, December 15, 2010 (AFP) - The new head of Thailand's "Red Shirts" said Wednesday the anti-government movement would step up its campaign to secure the release of its leaders with gatherings twice a month in Bangkok.

"From now on Red Shirt people will rally on the 10th and 19th of every month to intensify our fight in terms of number of protesters and activities," Thida Thavornseth, acting chairwoman of the movement, said at a news conference.

A two-month rally by the Reds from mid-March of this year attracted 100,000 people at its peak demanding immediate elections.

More than 90 people were killed in violence sparked by the protests, which saw a series of street battles between demonstrators and armed soldiers in the heart of the capital.

The rally came to a bloody end on May 19 with a deadly army assault on the Red Shirts' base, after which a small band of militant protesters set dozens of buildings ablaze across Bangkok, including a glitzy shopping mall.

Senior figures in the movement, including Thida's husband Weng Tojirakarn, have been detained on terrorism charges since the end of the demonstration, awaiting possible trial.

The mainly poor and working class Reds have staged a series of rallies in Bangkok in recent months, despite a state of emergency which bans gatherings of more than five people.

Thousands took to the streets of the capital on December 10, eight months after deadly clashes in the city's historic district.

The rally "was just the beginning", Thida said.

The retired microbiology lecturer and mother told AFP in a recent interview she wanted the democracy movement to be peaceful and "use brains".

A Japanese diplomat met the national police chief Wednesday to seek information on an investigation into the death of Reuters cameraman Hiroyuki Muramoto during an April 10 military operation to clear part of the old city.

Police General Wichean Potephosree said after the meeting with Nobuaki Ito, the minister for political affairs at the Japanese embassy in Bangkok, that the probe was making progress.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-12-15

[JetsetBkk]

"From now on Red Shirt people will rally on the 10th and 19th of every month to intensify our fight in terms of number of protesters and activities,"

Will that be in groups of 5 or less, or has that law been rescinded?

[Cuchulainn]

They'll soon get p155ed off with that!!

[Buchholz]

a small band of militant protesters set dozens of buildings ablaze across Bangkok

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-12-15

Repeated for Siam Simon's benefit.

[whybother]

"From now on Red Shirt people will rally on the 10th and 19th of every month to intensify our fight in terms of number of protesters and activities,"

Will that be in groups of 5 or less, or has that law been rescinded?

Have any of the recent protests been 5 people or less?

[givenall]

"From now on Red Shirt people will rally on the 10th and 19th of every month to intensify our fight in terms of number of protesters and activities,"

Will that be in groups of 5 or less, or has that law been rescinded?

There is a justice after all. they tried to destroy th country but they also destroyed their own well being. Now fewer tourist come and less business for all the people who support their RES Shirt who are part of the family of the effected business

Ohh Yeah, the money Mr. T promised never materialized either :lol:

'

[jdinasia]

Is this an aim to emulate the success of the initial PAD rallies held on some Fridays at Lumpini? Who knows. It is nice to see that some people have missed where the reds have been (like other groups) allowed to hold rallies (not prolonged) so long as they coordinated with the police first and remained non-violent.

[SamritT]

Unlike the PAD, the RED are out of wits.

[Buchholz]

A woman leader of anti-government protesters and supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra or Red Shirt group, Thida Tojirakarn, (center) with microphone, addresses a rally marking the country's Constitution Day at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok. -- PHOTO: AP

[hyperdimension]

Are these activities truly for the good of the people of Thailand?