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Monday May 21, 5:16 AMThousands protest against Thai junta
The demonstrators, who were rallying against a coup last September, gathered at Sanam Luang plaza in central Bangkok in the early evening before peacefully marching to the Democracy Monument a few kilometres (miles) away. "The demonstration is to show that we do not agree with coup and to kick out the junta," said one of the rally's organisers, Nattawut Saikuar, who is a supporter of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra. He urged the junta to hold elections as early as possible. The military-installed government has promised polls for the end of the year. Nattawut said 5,000 people joined the demonstration, but police estimated the figure at about 3,000. Police major general Manit Wongsomboon said that six hundred police officers were posted at Sanam Luang, while 300 police stood guard at the Democracy Monument. Nobody was arrested and there was no violence, he said. Sunday's protest came as Thai authorities appeared to be cracking down on dissent, detaining three supporters of Thaksin on Friday and closing three radio stations that broadcast statements by the ousted leader. Demonstrations against the junta are also becoming more frequent, with a similar protest at the end of April attracting at least 4,000 people. The protest movement is also beginning to create an odd coalition of allies, with some pro-democracy groups, which last year demonstrated against Thaksin, now joining forces with his allies in protesting against the junta. |
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