26
Mar
2009
Bangkok - March 26th: 20,000 Red Shirts Protest
On our last day in Bangkok before we headed to the Islands in the South, we decided we wanted to go watch a movie in one of their super plush movie theaters. You basically get your own lazy boy style reclining chair with a foot rest and they give you a blanket and pillow and serve alcohol and food to you while you relax in your chair. We planned on walking to the river and taking a speed water taxi (called a “khlong”) to the theatre. On the way there we were amazed to find that the street was full of thousands of protesters wearing red and shouting “Truth Now”. They seemed pretty peaceful and smiled at us, so we weren’t too concerned and were just happy that they were marching in the same direction that we were headed in so we would have to walk against the crowd. We had no idea at the time what they were protesting about…luckily then it was a peaceful protest that became less peaceful while we were away in the Islands.
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Category: Our Trip, Thailand
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On our last day in Bangkok before we headed to the Islands in the South, we decided we wanted to go watch a movie in one of their super plush movie theaters. You basically get your own lazy boy style reclining chair with a foot rest and they give you a blanket and pillow and serve alcohol and food to you while you relax in your chair. We planned on walking to the river and taking a speed water taxi (called a “khlong”) to the theatre. On the way there we were amazed to find that the street was full of thousands of protesters wearing red and shouting “Truth Now”. They seemed pretty peaceful and smiled at us, so we weren’t too concerned and were just happy that they were marching in the same direction that we were headed in so we would have to walk against the crowd. We had no idea at the time what they were protesting about…luckily then it was a peaceful protest that became less peaceful while we were away in the Islands.I looked up the following information on the National Post:
Supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra march toward to Government House during a 
protest on March 26, 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand. Thousands of anti-government protesters are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the dissolution of Parliament and fresh elections. More than 20,000 protesters surrounded the offices of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Thursday, distracting his government as it began giving cash handouts to the poor in a bid to stave off recession. In the latest episode in Thailand’s long-running political crisis, protesters derided Abhisit’s handling of the economy and vowed to stay at Government House until he resigned. “We want to get rid of Abhisit. We will stay until we achieve our goals,” said Jatuporn Prompan, a leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), which backs former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in a 2006 coup. Thousands of police and unarmed anti-riot soldiers ringed the Government House compound as the red-shirted crowd waved “Abhisit, Get Out” banners and speakers hurled abuse at his three-month-old government. The demonstrators had earlier pushed through police lines to get closer to the compound, but did not try to enter. The crowd was calm as night fell.
protest on March 26, 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand. Thousands of anti-government protesters are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the dissolution of Parliament and fresh elections. More than 20,000 protesters surrounded the offices of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Thursday, distracting his government as it began giving cash handouts to the poor in a bid to stave off recession. In the latest episode in Thailand’s long-running political crisis, protesters derided Abhisit’s handling of the economy and vowed to stay at Government House until he resigned. “We want to get rid of Abhisit. We will stay until we achieve our goals,” said Jatuporn Prompan, a leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), which backs former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in a 2006 coup. Thousands of police and unarmed anti-riot soldiers ringed the Government House compound as the red-shirted crowd waved “Abhisit, Get Out” banners and speakers hurled abuse at his three-month-old government. The demonstrators had earlier pushed through police lines to get closer to the compound, but did not try to enter. The crowd was calm as night fell.