Rival protests rock Thailand on coup anniversary
Supporters of the exiled Thai former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra hold placards and shout slogans at a rally at Royal Plaza in Bangkok yesterday marking three years since a putsch that sent Thaksin into exile. Photo: AFP
Thousands of protesters from rival political groups rallied in Thailand yesterday, sending tensions soaring on the third anniversary of a coup against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
In Bangkok, crowds of "Red Shirt" demonstrators who support the exiled Thaksin massed in front of the main government offices to demand new elections and the resignation of current premier Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Separately on the Cambodian border, dozens of people were wounded as protesters from the anti-Thaksin "Yellow Shirt" movement clashed with police near an ancient temple at the centre of a bitter row between the two countries.
The protests were the latest in the three years of political turmoil which has rocked Thailand since the September 19, 2006 putsch against Thaksin. The twice-elected billionaire is in exile to avoid a jail term for corruption.
"We came here today to mark the third anniversary of the coup, which has caused huge damage to the country," Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan told the crowd in Bangkok, as a thunderstorm drenched the protest site.
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