ID :
142753
Sun, 09/19/2010 - 21:10
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/142753
The shortlink copeid
Anti-government Red Shirts end demonstration at Ratchaprasong
BANGKOK, Sept 19 – Thailand's anti-government Red Sunday group ended their demonstration at Ratchaprasong Sunday evening, releasing over one thousand red balloons and lighting red candles to mark the anniversary of the September 2006 coup four years ago this date.
While some demonstrators have not yet vacated the area, Thailand's largest Red Shirt gathering since May 19 was wound down to a peaceful close.
Sombat Boonngamanong, a leading activist of the Red Sunday group, said that the day’s activities succeeded. A large number of Red Shirts came earlier than agreed, so the schedule was changed to complete all activities at 5.30pm before dispersing.
Mr Sombat led the demonstrators in releasing more than one thousand balloons. The protesters shouted and sang but no stage was erected for speakers to address the crowd.
They lit red candles before ending their activities. While most demonstrators dispersed, some still remained at the site.
Pol Maj-Gen Vichai Sangprapai, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 4 and Pol Maj-Gen Anucha Lekbumrung, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 6 with seven companies of officers have been standing by to control the situation at Ratchaprasong.
Gen Vichai said that overall the activities were orderly. The blocking of parts of traffic lanes was normal and unavoidable due to the large number of demonstrators.
After the leaders announced the end of the demonstration, the police would stand by until the area returns to normal. No deadline has been set for them to vacate the site but the police expected most would leave before 8pm.
Intelligence reported no signs of any attack and there had been no violence so far, he said.
Shopping malls in Ratchaprasong--including Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and the Siam Discovery department stores--closed earlier at 6pm Sunday.
Meanwhile, in the northern province of Chiang Mai, the other main venue of Red Shirt activities to mark the 2006 coup and the stronghold of the Red Shirt or the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), Red Shirt leaders took turns to speak on the stage at the Chiang Mai municipality stadium Sunday evening but cancelled the expected call-in by several leaders who are still on-the-run.
Red Shirt supporters also gathered to mark the event in the northeastern province of Nongkhai and the southern provinces of Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla.
A state of emergency remains in the capital of Bangkok and six other provinces, but it was lifted in Chiang Mai last month. (MCOT online news)
While some demonstrators have not yet vacated the area, Thailand's largest Red Shirt gathering since May 19 was wound down to a peaceful close.
Sombat Boonngamanong, a leading activist of the Red Sunday group, said that the day’s activities succeeded. A large number of Red Shirts came earlier than agreed, so the schedule was changed to complete all activities at 5.30pm before dispersing.
Mr Sombat led the demonstrators in releasing more than one thousand balloons. The protesters shouted and sang but no stage was erected for speakers to address the crowd.
They lit red candles before ending their activities. While most demonstrators dispersed, some still remained at the site.
Pol Maj-Gen Vichai Sangprapai, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 4 and Pol Maj-Gen Anucha Lekbumrung, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 6 with seven companies of officers have been standing by to control the situation at Ratchaprasong.
Gen Vichai said that overall the activities were orderly. The blocking of parts of traffic lanes was normal and unavoidable due to the large number of demonstrators.
After the leaders announced the end of the demonstration, the police would stand by until the area returns to normal. No deadline has been set for them to vacate the site but the police expected most would leave before 8pm.
Intelligence reported no signs of any attack and there had been no violence so far, he said.
Shopping malls in Ratchaprasong--including Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and the Siam Discovery department stores--closed earlier at 6pm Sunday.
Meanwhile, in the northern province of Chiang Mai, the other main venue of Red Shirt activities to mark the 2006 coup and the stronghold of the Red Shirt or the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), Red Shirt leaders took turns to speak on the stage at the Chiang Mai municipality stadium Sunday evening but cancelled the expected call-in by several leaders who are still on-the-run.
Red Shirt supporters also gathered to mark the event in the northeastern province of Nongkhai and the southern provinces of Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla.
A state of emergency remains in the capital of Bangkok and six other provinces, but it was lifted in Chiang Mai last month. (MCOT online news)
