泰国红衫军大规模集会支持英拉
In Thailand, the army is on alert to prevent clashes between pro- and anti-government groups. After months of anti-government protests in which 24 people were killed, Red Shirt government supporters are staging a three-day rally on the outskirts of Bangkok.
They are arriving from across Thailand. Numbers continuing to swell.
The Red Shirts have promised a show of strength. They say a line has been drawn, and to cross it can only lead to conflict.
Red-shirt supporters shout slogans during a rally on the outskirts of
Bangkok, Thailand, April 5, 2014. Thailand's United Front for Democracy against
Dictatorship (UDD), or red shirts, on Saturday started a three-day mass
rally to show support for the caretaker government. Tens of thousands of
supporters have been gathering at the rally site on Utthayan Road which connects
Nakhon Pathom province and the capital Bangkok. (Xinhua/Gao Jianjun)
They’ve watched five months’ of protests against the government they elected. They’ve seen attempts to hold new elections defeated. Now they wait while courts they consider biased, decide whether to impeach the prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
"We are here to tell anyone who tries to get rid of the government by undemocratic means that they will have to confront us. If there is a coup or any use of special powers, the Red Shirts will rise up," said Jatuporn Prompan, Red Shirts leader.
Red Shirts leaders are hoping for large numbers here on the outskirts of Bangkok. They say that will show the majority of Thais still support the elected government – not Suthep Thaugsuban’s protest movement ,which is trying to force it from office.
"The protest is the worst thing that’s happened to Thailand," government supporter said.
"Suthep is not acting fairly, he is breaking the law," government supporter said.
With street protests having little success, the prime minister’s opponents are now mounting a series of legal challenges to remove her.
The last time Red Shirts came to Bangkok, five people were killed in running battles with protesters. And with anti-government groups nearby, at a park in the city center, the Thai army is on full alert to keep the two factions apart.
