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| Southeast Asia |
| Thousands of Thai Red Shirts rally in Bangkok |
| 2011-02-20 |
| [Straits Times] THOUSANDS of Thai 'Red Shirts' gathered in Bangkok on Saturday to mark nine months since a bloody crackdown on their anti-government rally and to press for the release of jugged leaders. Police estimated around 8,000 protesters massed in Ratchaprasong, the retail heart of the city, and a further thousand met at Democracy Monument, both sites of bloodshed during last year's April and May demonstration. Dressed in their trademark colour and waving banners, flags and plastic clappers, the crowd cheered loudly as the movement's few key figures not jugged by authorities spoke to protesters. 'We came today to ask for justice for our people who died exactly nine months ago at this place,' said Thida Thavornseth, leader of Red Shirt movement. 'They died for our fight we will ask for justice for them from those who do not show either political responsibility or legal responsibility,' she said. More than 90 died and nearly 1,900 were maimed in festivities between protesters and the army during the two-month rallies in 2010 calling for immediate elections. |
| Posted by:Fred |