Bangkok: A crimson tide of protesters snaked
its way through the streets of the Thai capital on Saturday,
travelling in a caravan of thousands of cars, trucks and
motorbikes to drum up support for their campaign to oust a
government they call illegitimate.
The "Red Shirt" protesters plan to follow the march with
a giant painting made from their own blood tomorrow, the
latest shock tactic in their weeklong campaign to have Prime
Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolve Parliament and call new
elections.
The raucous procession, which organisers said wound its
way through 40 miles of city streets, was met with curious and
often sympathetic crowds, revealing a level of support in the
capital that the conventional wisdom of the Thai press had
underestimated.
"I haven't seen any opposition from Bangkok people.
People were thankful. They came to cheer us from all walks of
life. They gave water and food to us," said Kotchawan
Pim-ngern, 40, a flower seller, on a pickup truck.
"Just seeing them come out made me happy," she said.
"They all want democracy back."
The caravan stretched at times at least six miles along
Bangkok's streets, and Vichai Sangparpai, a commander in the
Metropolitan Police, estimated the number of participants at
100,000, though the department later gave a figure of 65,000
people traveling on 10,000 motorcycles and 7,000 cars and
trucks.
The protesters consist of supporters of former Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a 2006 military
coup for alleged corruption, and pro-democracy activists who
opposed the army takeover.
They believe Abhisit came to power illegitimately with
the connivance of the military and other parts of the
traditional ruling class and that only new elections can
restore integrity to Thai democracy. They also believe a new
vote would bring Thaksin's allies to power. The Red Shirts'
opponents believe they are puppets for Thaksin to regain
power.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, March 20, 2010, 20:23