Anti-government protesters in Bangkok have begun leaving Thailand’s
Government House after thousands of soldiers had surrounded the area
ready for a final offensive. Large groups of demonstrators who had been camped around the Government
House left the area after thousands of troops moved to tighten a cordon
overnight. Troops have now restored order following the violent clashes that left two people dead and almost 100 injured.
Civilians and protesters loyal to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra
clashed overnight in Bangkok, as tensions rose across the capital after
a military crackdown on the protest movement. The protestors have been calling for fresh elections and want former
prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup in 2006, to
be reinstated.
The red-shirted protesters, who had managed to shut down parts of
Bangkok for the past three weeks, are demanding the resignation of
Prime Minster Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Overnight the army hemmed in the several thousand activists,
following a day of violent clashes with police and soldiers that left
more than 120 people injured. More soldiers then
moved in, prompting the protest leaders to call on their remaining
followers to go home to avoid further bloodshed. The
activists were searched for weapons as they left, and the security
service brought in 60 buses to transport them from the prime minister’s
office. Most of the leaders have now turned themselves over to authorities, others have gone into hiding.
This morning the protest leaders decided it was time to surrender and most of the protesters have headed home. The police say the leaders will face prosecution, and one has already been arrested. Police have also detained three men who reportedly threatened to set fire to commercial buildings in the busy Silom district. Thailand’s national police chief says protest organisers will be
prosecuted for violating a state of emergency banning large gatherings.
The demonstrators left their camp in front of Thai Prime Minister
Abhisit Vejjajiva’s office after protest leaders said they would
disperse to avoid a crackdown by troops. Hundreds of red-shirted supporters of Mr Shinawatra trickled out
after the announcement, although some lingered at the site, dancing and
clapping to music. The announcement came after hundreds of soldiers backed by armoured
vehicles tightened a cordon around an estimated 2,000 protesters left
outside the seat of government.
Some of the protesters say they will continue the campaign against
Mr Abhisit’s government, which replaced an elected government allied to
Mr Thaksin in December. There are reports today that Thai authorities have asked Interpol to help track Mr Thaksin down.
There have been several flare-ups in different areas, including the burning of a bus in one part of the city. The military says it now has control of several intersections which were overrun by the protesters on Sunday night. Businesses and stores are expected to remain closed today.
Meanwhile, the Thai Government says it is no longer prepared to negotiate with Mr Thaksin. Mr Thaksin has been seeking a royal pardon for his corruption
conviction and last night some of his political allies filed a petition
requesting intervention by King Bhumipol Adulyadej.
