Thousands of ‘Red Shirts’ rally against Thai govt

BANGKOK : Thousands of “Red Shirt” demonstrators loyal to Thailand’s fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra gathered in Bangkok on Sunday to rally against the current government, police said.

Crowds of red-clad protesters arrived mid-afternoon in the city’s historic quarter, where a 1,500-strong police force was on hand to prevent violence, although they said they were expecting the event to be peaceful.

Police estimated that around 6,000 demonstrators were present by early evening and said the number could reach 8,000.

The rally is the latest in the three years of political turmoil which has rocked Thailand since a September 19, 2006 coup against Thaksin. The twice-elected billionaire lives in exile to avoid a jail term for corruption.

(channelnewsasia.com)