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Thailand's 'Red Shirts' rally to support PM Yingluck Shinawatra
ABC Radio Australia - April 6, 2014
Tens of thousands of 'Red Shirts' gathered on the western fringe of the city on Saturday in a show of support for Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Ms Yingluck faces several legal cases – including charges of abuse of power – which could see her removed from office in the coming weeks.
Red Shirt leaders say they are not seeking a fight with anti-government protesters, who are holding their own rally in Bangkok's Lumpini Park near the city's financial district.
"We're not looking for a confrontation with the anti-government crowd," Jatuporn Promphan, the chairman of the pro-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), said.
"This is about showing our strength and to warn the elite that we will not accept it if Yingluck is removed by the courts."
Government supporters accuse Ms Yingluck's enemies of plotting a judicial coup. Red Shirt leaders expect more than 500,000 to show up but others gave a more conservative estimate.
"More than 100,000 protesters are at the site now," Paradorn Pattanathabutr, a security adviser to the prime minister, said. "It's highly unlikely 500,000 will show up but Red Shirts are still trickling in." Thai army vows to 'stay neutral'
Apirak Konsompthong, commander of the 11th Infantry Division, told reporters on Saturday that the army would seek to remain neutral in the crisis. "Our explosive ordnance disposal and rapid deployment teams will help support police security efforts at the red rally this weekend," he said. "However, our main responsibility is to stay neutral."
More than 3,000 police and troops were deployed for Saturday's rally, following months of anti-government protests in which 24 people were killed and hundreds wounded.
Demonstrators have occupied state offices and key intersections in Bangkok in a bid to remove Ms Yingluck and rid the country of the influence of her brother, ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
They took to the streets in November and have since blockaded ministries, occupied government offices and, in January, set up camp at major traffic intersections in Bangkok.
On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court accepted a case against the premier lodged by 27 senators who say Ms Yingluck abused power when she transferred the national security chief in 2011. Ms Yingluck has been given 15 days to defend herself before the court. If found guilty, she faces removal from office.
She also faces charges of negligence brought against her by the National Anti-Corruption Commission in connection with a government rice-buying scheme that has run up huge losses. The premier could be impeached if the case is forwarded to the Senate. (ABC/Reuters)
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