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Bangkok protesters make 'final push' to topple Yingluck Shinawatra Bangkok protesters make 'final push' to topple Yingluck Shinawatra
(about 1 hour later)
At least two people have been killed and over 50 injured after a week of anti-government protests in Bangkok turned violent. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets on Sunday in a final push to topple the embattled government. At least two people have been killed and more than 50 injured after a week of anti-government protests in Bangkok turned violent. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets on Sunday in what organisers said was a final push to topple the embattled government.
Some 30,000 protesters have gathered in various locations around the city to take part in the so-called "people's revolution", including government ministries, police headquarters, the prime minister's office and television stations, with the aim of wresting control from the PM, Yingluck Shinawatra, to install a "people's council". Some 30,000 protesters have gathered in various locations around the city – including government ministries, police headquarters, the prime minister's office and television stations – to take part in the so-called "people's revolution" with the aim of wresting control from the PM, Yingluck Shinawatra, and installing a "people's council".
Sporting whistles, flags and anti-government banners, protesters at Government House – home to Yingluck's offices – were met with teargas as they repeatedly attempted to break through concrete barriers and razor wire protecting the compound. Teargas and water cannon were also used in two other areas in the city. Many central businesses, including five major shopping malls, were closed for the day.Sporting whistles, flags and anti-government banners, protesters at Government House – home to Yingluck's offices – were met with teargas as they repeatedly attempted to break through concrete barriers and razor wire protecting the compound. Teargas and water cannon were also used in two other areas in the city. Many central businesses, including five major shopping malls, were closed for the day.
The demonstrations have seen thousands take to the streets to overthrow Yingluck, who the protesters believe is a puppet of her brother Thaksin, the former PM ousted in a military coup in 2006 who was widely accused of being an anti-monarchist. The tycoon lives in self-imposed exile in Dubai after being convicted of corruption charges he claims were politically motivated. The protesters believe Yingluck is a puppet of her brother Thaksin, the former PM ousted in a military coup in 2006 who was widely accused of being an anti-monarchist. The tycoon lives in self-imposed exile in Dubai after being convicted of corruption charges he claims were politically motivated.
The current instability in Thailand hinges on an ill-conceived amnesty bill promoted by Yingluck's government as an attempt to help calm simmering tensions after the 2006 coup. But critics believed the bill would have seen Thaksin's corruption conviction cleared and allowed the polarising former leader to return to Thailand.The current instability in Thailand hinges on an ill-conceived amnesty bill promoted by Yingluck's government as an attempt to help calm simmering tensions after the 2006 coup. But critics believed the bill would have seen Thaksin's corruption conviction cleared and allowed the polarising former leader to return to Thailand.
The prime minister herself was forced to flee to an unknown location after a planned press conference was scrapped when protesters stormed the building, Reuters reported. The prime minister was forced to flee to an unknown location after a planned press conference was scrapped when protesters stormed the police building where it was to be held, Reuters reported.
While wresting control of the media is often seen as standard practice during a coup, the group leading the protests, the Civil Movement for Democracy (CMD), said it was not occupying the stations but merely negotiating with them to air an afternoon speech by protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban. While wresting control of the media is often seen as standard practice during a coup, the group leading the protests, the Civil Movement for Democracy (CMD), said it was not occupying the TV stations but merely negotiating with them to air an afternoon speech by the protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.
The managing director of Thai PBS, Somchai Suwanban, one of the stations taken over by protesters, however, insinuated otherwise: "The longer the protesters occupy a public service TV, the more damage they have done to their pro-democracy claim", he tweeted. The managing director of Thai PBS, Somchai Suwanban, one of the stations taken over by protesters, insinuated otherwise, however. "The longer the protesters occupy a public service TV, the more damage they have done to their pro-democracy claim", he tweeted.
As protests continued late into Sunday afternoon, the governmentsaid it would send riot police to both the finance ministry and government complex in order to "reclaim space" from protesters, with unconfirmed reports of rubber bullets also being used against demonstrators. As protests continued late into Sunday afternoon, the government said it would send riot police to both the finance ministry and government complex in order to "reclaim space" from protesters, with unconfirmed reports of rubber bullets also being used against demonstrators.
Unarmed troops were also sent to rescue stranded students from Ramkhamhaeng University, near the spot where at least two people were killed on Saturday night during attacks between anti-government protesters and "redshirt" government supporters in a sports stadium. Unarmed troops were sent to rescue stranded students from Ramkhamhaeng University, near the spot where at least two people were killed on Saturday night during attacks between anti-government protesters and "redshirt" government supporters in a sports stadium.
The two dead were a 21-year-old student anti-government protestor and a 43-year-old redshirt guard, while 54 others were injured. The two dead were a 21-year-old student anti-government protester and a 43-year-old redshirt guard. Fifty-four other people were injured.
Redshirt leaders attempted to reduce tensions by calling on their supporters to go home; many of them returned to their northern provinces by bus.Redshirt leaders attempted to reduce tensions by calling on their supporters to go home; many of them returned to their northern provinces by bus.
The head of the army, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, has reportedly offered to mediate between the two sides, the English-language paper The Nation reported, but it is unclear what Suthep will do next, as he has ignored repeated calls by Yingluck for negotiation and insisted that laws must be broken for protesters to achieve their goal – a vague plan for a non-elected "people's council" to run the country with the king as head of state. The head of the army, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, has offered to mediate between the two sides, the English-language paper the Nation reported, but it is unclear what Suthep will do next, as he has ignored repeated calls by Yingluck for negotiation and insisted that laws must be broken for protesters to achieve their goal – a vague plan for a non-elected "people's council" to run the country with the king as head of state.
The current protests are the largest since the 2010 demonstrations that saw 2,000 injured and nearly 100 killed. The current protests are the largest since the 2010 demonstrations in which nearly 100 were killed and 2,000 injured.
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