Huge protest packs Siam Square
(Bangkok Post dd. 30 maart 2006 // DN)
****Will disperse at 10am today, regroup April 7
A huge crowd packed Siam Square last night in support of the People’s Alliance for Democracy’s protest against caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his ‘‘illegitimate elections’’ on Sunday. ‘‘We have succeeded in bringing our information to the people in this business district after campaigning in Silom earlier,’’ said PAD core leader Chamlong Srimuang.
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An estimated 100,000 anti-Thaksin demonstrators packed Rama I road, including the area underneath the Siam Square skytrain station, yesterday.
Since the Silom campaign led to Mr Thaksin being shouted at when he visited a noodle shop on Monday, ‘‘now he won’t dare come to Siam Paragon’’, Maj-Gen Chamlong said.
Publisher Sondhi Limthongkul urged people to shun the prime minister.
Another PAD leader, Somkiat Pongpaiboon, called on people to wear black from March 31 to April 2 in protest against what he said would be the dirtiest poll in history.
Mr Somkiat announced that demonstrators would disperse at 10am today for a ‘‘break from battle’’ until they meet again on April 7 at the Makkawan bridge to voice their opposition to the ‘‘illegitimate election’’.
Two groups of demonstrators would go to the Election Commission and the national police headquarters after the demonstration disperses this morning, Mr Somkiat said.
In Chiang Mai, Mr Thaksin accused the demonstrators of damaging the economy while he expounded on his plans for his third term in power.
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A protester waves a poster ridiculing Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra during the rally at Siam Paragon shopping complex.
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protester takes a break to powder her nose and apply some mascara.
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A demonstrator digs in at a sukiyaki restaurant in Siam Square during yesterday’s protest rally.
‘‘The only thing in the mind of the protesters is winning. They have never taken the economy or the nation into account,’’ Mr Thaksin said.
After the election, Mr Thaksin said, he would restore confidence among foreign investors through a series of road shows.
The PAD apologised for any inconvenience they may have caused by mobilising so many demonstrators at one of the country’s main business districts.
‘‘But by comparison with problems stemming from dictatorial leaders and a regime which will bring long-term deterioration to the country for generations, traffic problems are small and short-term,’’ they said in a prepared statement.
New participants contributed to the massive demonstration on Rama I road.
A 40-year-old company employee who asked to be identified only as Chanakarn, said he came to the rally site with 10 friends.
It was the first time he had joined the anti-Thaksin protests and he decided to come because he could easily reach the location on the BTS train.
‘‘I come here to send a message that politicians should realise they mustn’t put the nation and national security at risk since the people who rally are educated and will not resort to violence,’’ he said.
Wasit Yarnthoy and Veerachai Joyjanesilp, both 17-year-old students from the Ratchadaphisek area, arrived with a banner reading ‘‘Love the King. Worry about the nation. Sucker, get out’’. They were also joining the protests for the first time.
‘‘We are good students with a GPA of over 3. But why is it the one who holds a doctorate degree can’t read the words ‘Get out’?’’ they said.
About 1,000 current and former students from the faculty of arts of the nearby Chulalongkorn University, were among the demonstrators yesterday. They wore pink, their university’s colour and carried banners with a message written in Chinese, Vietnamese, Burmese, Cambodian and English saying ‘‘Thaksin, get out.’’ and ‘‘Thaksin, liar’’.
The demonstrators gathered in front of the National Stadium at 3pm before marching to the shopping malls.
About 30 motorcycles led the procession, followed by pick-up trucks with loudspeakers and a row of sturdy men who hooked their arms together.
The men led the six-wheeled truck on which PAD leaders Maj-Gen Chamlong, Pibhop Dhongchai and Somsak Kosaisuk took turns to address the crowds.
But when the procession passed the Nimibutr Stadium, a number of leaflets attacking the demonstrators were dropped from an elevated train station. The procession received loud applause from people on both sides of Rama I road and on footbridges and elevated train stations. Many took to the street to join the march.
The demonstrators finally reached the Chalermphao intersection where Rama I and Henri Dunant roads adjoin.
There, a number of police set up a blockade. Mr Pibhop eventually convinced police to retreat far enough to let the end of the procession pass the Pathumwan intersection on Rama I road.
Traffic police commander Pol Maj-Gen Panu Kerdlarppol, who met Mr Pibhop, said that despite the demonstration traffic flow yesterday evening was light and smooth thanks to prior notice of the protest.
The demonstration saw about 100,000 people pack Rama I Road from Pathumwan to Ratchaprasong intersections.