11 April 2009

Protesters storm Asean Summit

Military helicopters whisked world leaders to safety after anti-government ‘red shirt’ protesters forced their way through rows of armed soldiers to storm the hotel where the Asean Summit was being held.

Thailand had to cancel the Asean and East Asia meetings for the second time in less than four months. The summit was originally scheduled to be held in Bangkok in December 2008 but was cancelled due to anti-Thaksin People’s Alliance for Democracy protests. Leaders of the 10 Asean states were in Pattaya to meet counterparts from China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

As the red-clad protesters occupied the Royal Cliff Hotel, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency in Pattaya and Chon Buri. The unrest came on the heels of weeks of red-shirt protests in Bangkok, with tens of thousands turning out for anti-government rallies where an array of speakers, including former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in live video addresses, called for new elections, accusing the Democrats of coming to power illegitimately. Abhisit’s car was attacked twice in a matter of days, once in Bangkok and once in Pattaya, as tensions rose in the capital.

11 April 2009

Protesters storm Asean Summit

Military helicopters whisked world leaders to safety after anti-government ‘red shirt’ protesters forced their way through rows of armed soldiers to storm the hotel where the Asean Summit was being held.

Thailand had to cancel the Asean and East Asia meetings for the second time in less than four months. The summit was originally scheduled to be held in Bangkok in December 2008 but was cancelled due to anti-Thaksin People’s Alliance for Democracy protests. Leaders of the 10 Asean states were in Pattaya to meet counterparts from China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

As the red-clad protesters occupied the Royal Cliff Hotel, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency in Pattaya and Chon Buri. The unrest came on the heels of weeks of red-shirt protests in Bangkok, with tens of thousands turning out for anti-government rallies where an array of speakers, including former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in live video addresses, called for new elections, accusing the Democrats of coming to power illegitimately. Abhisit’s car was attacked twice in a matter of days, once in Bangkok and once in Pattaya, as tensions rose in the capital.