Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in Bangkok on Wednesday in their biggest bid yet to force Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva from office, as the government braced for possible violence.
Police said about 30,000 red-clad supporters of self-exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra had gathered outside the main government offices in the capital, where demonstrators have been staging a sit-in for the past two weeks.
The protest comes a day after red-shirts attacked Mr Abhisit's motorcade following a cabinet meeting in Pattaya, smashing one of the windows of his car in a major escalation of tensions.
Protest leaders said they expected thousands more supporters to come from around the country on Wednesday for what they have deemed "D-Day" in their efforts to push Mr Abhisit to dissolve his four-month-old government and hold elections.
Mr Abhisit warned crowd dispersal may be necessary if the rally spins out of control.
''If it develops into mayhem, we may have to do that,'' the prime minister said in an interview on Wednesday morning.
''But there will be no use of force.''
Protesters began a march about 10am on the residence of Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda, who has been accused by Thaksin of orchestrating the coup that toppled him power in 2006.
Police spokesman Maj-Gen Suporn Phansua said about 10,000 security personnel had been deployed at major sites including Government House and Gen Prem's residence.
Local television footage showed that soldiers were deployed at Gen Prem's house.
Billionaire tycoon Thaksin, who is living in an undisclosed foreign country to avoid a jail term for corruption, said late on Tuesday the protests would mark a "historic day for Thailand''.
"We will come peacefully but we need as many people as possible to show that the Thai people will not tolerate these politics any more," he said in a speech by video-link to supporters outside Government House.
British-born Abhisit came to power in December after a court ruling removed Thaksin's allies from government. The decision came after a long street campaign by protesters claiming allegiance to the monarchy.
The country remains deeply divided between Thaksin's followers among the urban and rural poor, and his foes in the traditional power cliques of the palace, military and bureaucracy
www.bangkokpost.com
08 April 2009
Mass protest
Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in Bangkok on Wednesday in their biggest bid yet to force Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva from office, as the government braced for possible violence.
Police said about 30,000 red-clad supporters of self-exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra had gathered outside the main government offices in the capital, where demonstrators have been staging a sit-in for the past two weeks.
The protest comes a day after red-shirts attacked Mr Abhisit's motorcade following a cabinet meeting in Pattaya, smashing one of the windows of his car in a major escalation of tensions.
Protest leaders said they expected thousands more supporters to come from around the country on Wednesday for what they have deemed "D-Day" in their efforts to push Mr Abhisit to dissolve his four-month-old government and hold elections.
Mr Abhisit warned crowd dispersal may be necessary if the rally spins out of control.
''If it develops into mayhem, we may have to do that,'' the prime minister said in an interview on Wednesday morning.
''But there will be no use of force.''
Protesters began a march about 10am on the residence of Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda, who has been accused by Thaksin of orchestrating the coup that toppled him power in 2006.
Police spokesman Maj-Gen Suporn Phansua said about 10,000 security personnel had been deployed at major sites including Government House and Gen Prem's residence.
Local television footage showed that soldiers were deployed at Gen Prem's house.
Billionaire tycoon Thaksin, who is living in an undisclosed foreign country to avoid a jail term for corruption, said late on Tuesday the protests would mark a "historic day for Thailand''.
"We will come peacefully but we need as many people as possible to show that the Thai people will not tolerate these politics any more," he said in a speech by video-link to supporters outside Government House.
British-born Abhisit came to power in December after a court ruling removed Thaksin's allies from government. The decision came after a long street campaign by protesters claiming allegiance to the monarchy.
The country remains deeply divided between Thaksin's followers among the urban and rural poor, and his foes in the traditional power cliques of the palace, military and bureaucracy
www.bangkokpost.com
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