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Thailand Anti-Government Protesters Aim for ‘Day of Victory’

Categories: East Asia, Thailand, Breaking News, Governance, Politics, Protest
The anti-government movement in Bangkok is called the "Whistle Revolution" as protesters whistle to show their discontentment. Photo by Camille Gazeau, Copyright @Demotix (11/29/2013) [1]

The anti-government movement in Bangkok is called the “Whistle Revolution” as protesters whistle to show their discontentment. Photo by Camille Gazeau, Copyright @Demotix (11/29/2013)

Thailand’s anti-government protesters are aiming [2] to occupy the Government House today and nine other government buildings [3] in order to bring down the administration of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. This developed after a protester was killed and several others were injured during a clash between government supporters and protesters.

Protesters have occupied several buildings in the government complex but today many of them have dispersed [4] in order to occupy [5] other government offices and media stations. The Twitter hashtag #bangkokprotests [6] is useful to monitor the protests.

Yingluck may have survived [7] a no-confidence vote in parliament but the tension [8] in the capital is far from over. Protesters wanted her removed from power because she is accused of being a puppet of her elder brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin was ousted by a coup in 2006. He is in exile after being found guilty of plunder by a local court.

The intensity of protests today is reminiscent of the 2008 crisis when protesters occupied the airport, and other key facilities of Bangkok.

A barbed wire was placed by the police to prevent the entry of protesters in government-owned buildings and media stations

From channel 5, another photo at 11:54pm from Face-Eid

A student protester was hurt by a grenade fragment

Up close! A student hurt by a bomb blast in his face this morning

Tear gas was fired by the police against protesters during the Sunday morning protest:

Photo of a police firing tear gas by Chayanond Praneet

Many were relieved to hear that Red Shirt government supporters have decided to call off [18] a rally this Sunday which would help in avoiding further clashes between them and the protesters. Red Shirts were gathered at the Rajamangala Stadium.

Protesters have criticized the bias of mainstream media which they used as a justification in trying to overtake media stations:

The government admitted that the protests have affected the delivery of public services [34] in the country:

While the Government has dealt with the protests with utmost restraint to avoid casualties, it has also been able to ensure continuity in the administration of the state and law enforcement.

Although the provision of public services by some agencies has been affected, the Government has contingency plans to ensure that there is sufficient and comprehensive provision of public services.