At least 40,000 protest in Bangkok

Published 5:26 am Wednesday, April 8, 2009

BANGKOK — Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated today outside the home of the king’s top adviser, accusing him of orchestrating the 2006 coup that toppled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

All dressed in red, the massive crowd clapped and cheered as protest leaders called for the resignation of Prem Tinsulanonda, an 88-year-old privy councilor who police said remained inside his house. Soldiers stood guard inside the compound. Several rows of riot police lined the roadside, and the compound’s entrance and a surrounding wall were reinforced with barbed wire.

At least 40,000 people turned out for the sprawling protest by late afternoon, said Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuaksuban. Rally organizers said the crowd size was 300,000.

Protesters flooded the street outside Prem’s residence and spilled over to the Royal Plaza, a large historic square nearby. The crowd continued to swell as evening approached but this year’s boisterous demonstrations have so far remained peaceful.

The protest is the biggest challenge to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s four-month-old government, which became the fourth administration since the coup in a long-running political crisis that revolves around Thaksin. The protesters say Thaksin was wrongfully ousted and Abhisit — who was appointed by Parliament in December — took power illegitimately and should step aside so Parliament can be dissolved ahead of fresh elections.

“Brothers and sisters, come out. If you love democracy, come out! If you want an end to elite rule, come out!” protest leaders aboard trucks shouted through megaphones. “Abhisit, get out! Prem, get out!”

Protesters have accused the country’s elite — the military, judiciary and other unelected officials — of interfering in politics.

Prem has denied the accusations, but the rare public criticism of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s privy councilor broke a taboo in Thailand, where members of the monarchy and their aides are highly revered. The last rally outside his home in July 2007 turned into a riot in which more than 200 people were injured.

Bhumibol, who has occupied the throne for six decades, has historically been the country’s sole unifying figure in times of crisis. Thais have long looked to him as the country’s top moral authority even though he is a constitutional monarch with few real powers.

More than 4,000 police were deployed in the area, where protest leaders vowed to camp for at least three days. Army reinforcements were on standby and authorities have urged the general public to avoid the area.

Today’s rally came after a two-week sit-in outside Abhisit’s office, which at its peak drew 30,000 protesters. Thousands continued to surround the seat of government near Prem’s residence.

Abhisit rejected the demands for his resignation and said he planned to carry on with his day as usual.

“The government will not dissolve Parliament,” Abhisit told reporters after launching an anti-drunk driving campaign ahead of the Thai New Year holiday next week. “We will only do so if it is an appropriate solution.”

Abhisit has repeatedly expressed concerns about violence at the rally, but said authorities will allow the rally if it remains orderly.

“If it becomes a riot, the government will have to do something,” Abhisit said. “I can assure you there will no violence starting from the government’s side.”

On the eve of the rally, a car carrying Abhisit was attacked by protesters, but he escaped unharmed. The Tuesday attack occurred as Abhisit left a Cabinet meeting in the coastal resort of Pattaya, about 90 miles south of Bangkok, where Asian leaders will gather Friday for a summit.

Thaksin, who was ousted amid accusations of corruption and abuse of power, has been addressing the protests via video link from exile. He fled the country last year before a court convicted him of abuse of power and sentenced him to two years in prison.

Critics have accused Thaksin and his supporters of being disloyal to the country’s monarch, an accusation that Thaksin has repeatedly denied.

Most of Thaksin’s supporters are from the country’s poor rural majority, who benefited from his populist policies. They are known as “the red shirts,” for their favored attire.

The protests are the latest episode in Thailand’s long-running political turmoil, a tug-of-war between Thaksin’s supporters and opponents.

Last year was dominated by protests from Thaksin’s opponents, who wore yellow shirts. They occupied the Government House for three months and shut down Bangkok’s two airports for a week. Their protests ended in December after courts removed two pro-Thaksin prime ministers from office, paving the way for Abhisit to take power in Parliament in December.