Backgrounder: Major protests in Thailand since 2008

Thai protests have escalated as hundreds of army soldiers and anti-government protesters clashed in Bangkok early Monday morning after Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency in the capital city.
    Here is a chronology of major protests in Thailand since May last year.
    May 25, 2008: The opposition the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) staged street rallies in central Bangkok, to pressure former Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to resign, claiming he was just a deputy of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
    Aug. 26: At least 35,000 PAD protesters seized the Government House in the capital.
    Oct. 7: Police fired tear gas and clashed with thousands of demonstrators who marched to the parliament. Two people were killed and nearly 500 were injured in the clash, the worst street violence in 16 years in Bangkok.
    Nov. 24: Up to 18,000 PAD supporters surrounded the parliament and forced the postponement of a key session.
    Nov. 25: PAD protesters occupied and paralyzed Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport and the Don Muang Airport, urging then Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to step down. After that, Somchai announced emergency decree in the areas of both airports.
    Nov. 30: A blast occurred near Government House where thousands of PAD supporters were holding a rally, injuring 50 protesters. After midnight, about 15,000 government supporters massed in central Bangkok.
    Dec. 28: Thaksin supporters held their first rally against Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva who was elected prime minister on Dec. 15. They moved on to the parliament the next day and forcing Abhisit to delay his maiden speech.
    March 26, 2009: Thousands of Thaksin supporters in red shirts began demonstrating in Bangkok to call for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his government to step down.
    April 9: The "red-shirts", or the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship, supporting Thaksin, launched protests across Bangkok and Pattaya, demanding Abhisit and three Privy Council members to resign.
    April 11: Thousands of red-shirted protesters stormed the venue for the ASEAN related summits in Pattaya, forcing the government to cancel the meetings.
    April 12: A state of emergency was declared by Abhisit in Bangkok and some districts of five provinces nearby, as at least 77 were wounded in escalating violence between protesters and soldiers.
//CHNVIEW

Related Posts