Hundreds protest coup in Thai capital, some hurl rocks at police

Hundreds protest coup in Thai capital, some hurl rocks at police

The Associated Press
Published: March 23, 2007

BANGKOK, Thailand: Hundreds of pro-democracy activists faced off against police in the Thai capital on Friday during a rally to call for the quick restoration of democracy in the country following last year's military coup.
Some protesters threw rocks, plastic bottles and chairs at the police as they marched toward a large Bangkok park, Sanam Luang, where nearly 1,000 people had gathered.
No injuries were reported and the protest carried on peacefully after the 20-minute showdown.
"The coup destroyed democracy in Thailand," shouted one of the protest leaders, Veera Musigapong, who was a former deputy leader of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai party. "I hope this is the last coup Thailand will ever see."
Sanam Luang is where tens of thousands of people held regular protests last year demanding Thaksin's ouster, climaxing in a military coup in September while the former premier was out of the country.

Friday's demonstrators also called for the resignation of the military-installed interim government, and demanded elections be held immediately.
The government of interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has vowed to step down after elections scheduled for the end of the year.
Veera and other former Thai Rak Thai executives also protested the government's move to block the launch of their new satellite television network PTV, or People's Television. The government-owned CAT Telecom refused to relay PTV's signal to a satellite.
The government fears Thaksin may attempt a comeback after his Sept. 19 ouster.
Thaksin, in exile since the coup, has been traveling between his London residence and various Asian countries.

Block Master said.....Its suck !!! the coup maker blocked the websites their live from Sanamluang Square everyday and try to stop the protest by collaborate with the Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayothin. Before day, Bangkok gov. was try to bar the protester groups and claim that Sanamluang Square to be use in week of "Thai folk sport Show". Its very suck !!! Nobody care about that anymore !!! The country will be explode tomorrow ............