By Pravit Rojanaphruk, Thaweeporn Kummetha, The Nation |
<p>Somyot Pruksakasemsuk, a leader of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship and editor of the new Thai Red News weekly newspaper, isn't your typical red-shirt chieftain.</p>
<p>While denying he's ever received money from former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Somyot is quick to add that he wouldn't mind getting some.<br />
"I'd like some of Thaksin's money if he's willing! I don't know why he won't give me any. I think he only gives it to his cronies.</p>
By Thaweeporn Kummetha and Pravit Rojanaphruk, The Nation |
<p>Some 30,000 red shirts occupied half of Sanam Luang yesterday evening in a rally to remind Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva that they remained a threat to the coalition government.</p>
By Darren Schuettler, Reuters |
<p>A Thai judge citing reasons of national security closed the trial on Tuesday of a "red shirt" supporter of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra charged with insulting the monarchy.</p>
<p>Daranee Charncherngsilpakul, aka ‘Da Torpedo’, who has been accused of lèse majesté and held in prison without bail since 22 July 2008, will face her first trial in court on June 23, and trials in her other two cases in which she is accused of leading protesters to surround ASTV and insulting coup leader Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr will follow.</p>
<p>Prachatai talked to her lawyer Prawase Praphanukul who agreed to take the case despite their different political stance.</p>
<p>Despite its wrong caption, <a href="http://www.thairath.co.th/today/view/12919">Thai Rath</a>’s photo of a former PAD guard grabbing the hair of a red-shirt woman and dragging her along the road during the military crackdown in April has won the Best Photo of the Year Award from the Mass Media Photographers Association of Thailand (MPA). The MPA President explained it won because it is so vividly emotional that no description is necessary. Abhisit will preside over the ceremony on June 18.</p>
<p>On May 21, INN News reported that according to Pol Col Sompoch Sonkanok, superintendent at Mae Rim Police Station in Chiang Mai, local police have issued an arrest warrant for Kokaew Pikulthong, a red-shirt leader, charging him with lèse majesté offence for his speech to the red-shirt rally on March 22 at Chiang Mai’s 700<sup>th</sup> year Stadium.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Pol Col Sompoch said that police were also investigating whether what Thaksin Shinnawatra had said in his phone-in during the same rally constituted the same offence or not.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" />
normal"><span lang="EN-GB" />
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">On Apr 24, Papatchanan Ching-in, leader of a group of red-shirts in Nakhon Ratchasima province, reported to police after arrest warrant had been issued for her by the provincial court on the previous day.</span></p>
By Pravit Rojanaphruk |
<p>Removing their red shirts for fear of violent reprisal and arrest, some 500 red-shirts anti-government protesters refused to quit and re-grouped at Sanam Luang and other spots like Phan Fah bridge yesterday (Tuesday) after the Government House protest site was abandoned and leaders arrested. The atmosphere was tense, distraughtful, as protesters tried to console one another not to give up their cause of overthrowing what they believed to be the elite-bureaucratic control over politics and poor people.</p>
By Marwaan Macan-Markar, IPSNews |
<p> BANGKOK, Apr 14 (IPS) - For nearly two weeks, Pairoj Chotsripanporn joined the ranks of anti-government protesters gathered outside the prime minister’s office, wearing the trademark red shirt of the movement.</p>
By Frank G. Anderson |
<p>Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — Two Red Shirt leaders announced Tuesday morning they were dispersing their followers, who had been protesting in Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand for days, and would surrender to police. The two leaders of the pro-Thaksin Shinawatra group, United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, were taken into police custody for questioning.</p>
By Thomas Fuller, The New York Times |
<p> Thailand, the land of politeness and smiles, is also famous for kickboxing. The street battles in Bangkok this week were a window into the country’s pugilistic side, an outpouring of frustration by protesters who say they feel injustice and discrimination in the workings of Thailand’s troubled democracy.</p>