1 May 2010
Fatal clashes between forces and red shirts
Much displeasure was expressed by the red shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) after Abhisit Vejjajiva, at the time leader of the Democrat Party, was elected as prime minister by parliament under what they perceived to be the influence of the military.
The formation of the Democrat-led government came shortly before the Supreme Court’s decision on February 26, 2010, to seize former premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s assets worth 46 billion baht on its ruling that his grown-up children were mere proxies holding Shin Corp shares for him.
The red shirt protests began on March 12 with calls for Mr Abhisit to step down and make way for a fresh election.
On May 19, the military moved in to disperse the protesters who were holding on to their last bastion at Ratchaprasong intersection. The subsequent clashes between the soldiers and protesters left scores dead and injured, many in the adjacent Wat Prathum Wanaram.
Further violence ensued that afternoon when people were seen in video clips setting fire to commercial buildings, including CentralWorld shopping complex.
UDD chairman Jatuporn Prompan dismissed allegations that the UDD was involved in burning buildings shortly after the clashes between the security forces and the protesters on May 19.
Terrorism charges were laid against 24 UDD leaders which were subsequently dismissed by the Criminal Court. Despite dismissal of the terrorism charges, some red-shirt leaders still faced penalties for derailing the Asean summit in 2009.
They claimed the Abhisit Vejjajiva government had no legitimacy because the army was behind its rise to power following the “politically motivated” dissolution of the People’s Power Party of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The UDD claimed the peaceful protest turned bloody when security forces allegedly attacked demonstrators following failed negotiations.
Besides the red shirts, seven soldiers and two foreign reporters were killed in the violence.
1 May 2010
Fatal clashes between forces and red shirts
Much displeasure was expressed by the red shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) after Abhisit Vejjajiva, at the time leader of the Democrat Party, was elected as prime minister by parliament under what they perceived to be the influence of the military.
The formation of the Democrat-led government came shortly before the Supreme Court’s decision on February 26, 2010, to seize former premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s assets worth 46 billion baht on its ruling that his grown-up children were mere proxies holding Shin Corp shares for him.
The red shirt protests began on March 12 with calls for Mr Abhisit to step down and make way for a fresh election.
On May 19, the military moved in to disperse the protesters who were holding on to their last bastion at Ratchaprasong intersection. The subsequent clashes between the soldiers and protesters left scores dead and injured, many in the adjacent Wat Prathum Wanaram.
Further violence ensued that afternoon when people were seen in video clips setting fire to commercial buildings, including CentralWorld shopping complex.
UDD chairman Jatuporn Prompan dismissed allegations that the UDD was involved in burning buildings shortly after the clashes between the security forces and the protesters on May 19.
Terrorism charges were laid against 24 UDD leaders which were subsequently dismissed by the Criminal Court. Despite dismissal of the terrorism charges, some red-shirt leaders still faced penalties for derailing the Asean summit in 2009.
They claimed the Abhisit Vejjajiva government had no legitimacy because the army was behind its rise to power following the “politically motivated” dissolution of the People’s Power Party of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The UDD claimed the peaceful protest turned bloody when security forces allegedly attacked demonstrators following failed negotiations.
Besides the red shirts, seven soldiers and two foreign reporters were killed in the violence.