Thais mark New Year with water fights, dousing political tensions after deadly clashes

BANGKOK (AP) – Thais are taking break from weeks of political mayhem and have picked up water guns to soak each other at the start of the traditional New Year holiday, but anti-government protesters warned that the respite won’t last long.

Red Shirt protesters, who are campaigning to bring down the government, threatened to unleash another street “offensive” Wednesday, the second day of the three-day Songkran festival. Songkran is Thailand’s main holiday, an annual ritual of dancing, heavy drinking and water fights in villages and cities.

TODAY