‘Red Shirts’ Storm Parliament in Bangkok

Posted on Apr 7, 2010

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The Red Shirts took to the streets of Bangkok on Wednesday, ignoring an emergency decree banning mass gatherings.

Thousands of anti-government protesters rallied in front of the Thai parliament on Wednesday demanding new elections. The demonstration forced legislators to pack it in and some of the Red Shirt protesters smashed through the compound’s gates, though they left shortly thereafter.

The Red Shirts are mostly allied with ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was popular among rural and poor Thais.

Thailand has also seen mass demonstrations by the Yellow Shirts, a rival group drawing support from a more urban crowd. —PZS

Sources: AFP, BBC

AFP via Yahoo:

Military helicopters airlifted government ministers from Thailand’s parliament Wednesday after angry protesters stormed the building in a dramatic escalation of their bid to topple the government.

Two Blackhawk helicopters landed under the guard of armed soldiers to rescue the deputy prime minister and other senior government figures after other lawmakers fled.

Red-shirted protesters, many of whom support fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, had forced their way into Thailand’s parliamentary compound, smashing through the gates with a truck.

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