Bangkok, Sept 19 (AFP\/APP):Hundreds of protesters drove through Bangkok’s streets on Sunday to mark the 15th anniversary of a military coup that ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.<\/p>\n
The billionaire ex-premier — now living in self-exile — has remained a prominent figure in the country’s politics since the military deposed his government on September 19, 2006.<\/p>\n
Unloading a massive cardboard model of a tank for their “cars against tanks” protest, rallygoers honked car horns to call for the resignation of Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha, a former army chief who came to power in a 2014 coup.<\/p>\n
“Fifteen years have passed, we are still here to fight,” shouted Nattawut Saikuar, a politician long associated with Thaksin, to a sea of supporters waving “Kick out Prayut” flags.<\/p>\n
“No matter how many coups there are, it cannot stop us… No matter how good capacity their tanks are, it cannot stop the fighting hearts of the people.”<\/p>\n
Thailand has seen more than a dozen coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932 by its putsch-happy military — often staged in the name of protecting the powerful royal family.<\/p>\n
Thaksin’s juggernaut rise to power was boosted by the so-called “Red Shirts”, mostly working-class supporters who revere him for populist contributions such as instating a universal healthcare system.<\/p>\n
But he was hated by Bangkok elites and the powerful military, and has faced a raft of corruption accusations.<\/p>\n
His influence in Thailand’s patronage-reliant politics permeated the kingdom even after his ouster — his sister Yingluck was the next premier, before she too was deposed in a 2014 coup led by then-army chief Prayut.
\nThe general went on to become prime minister in 2019 elections governed under a new constitution authored by his junta.<\/p>\n
Nattawut said the premier has had plenty of time to improve Thailand, “but the country is in recession. The economy, society and politics are collapsing”.<\/p>\n
The red-clad protesters in cars and on motorbikes moved to Democracy Monument for a quick demonstration in the heavy rain before dispersing at nightfall.<\/p>\n
Another small group briefly clashed with authorities at the nearby Victory Monument intersection, flinging projectiles at riot-gear clad police who deployed tear gas against them before scattering around 9 pm (1400 GMT).
\nThe protesters are part of an anti-government movement that has repeatedly called for Prayut’s resignation since July 2020.<\/p>\n
Scrutiny of the government increased after a fresh Covid-19 wave in April snowballed Thailand’s cumulative caseload from less than 29,000 to more than 1.4 million infections in just five months, as well as a rising death toll.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, the premier survived a no-confidence vote — his third since 2019.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bangkok, Sept 19 (AFP\/APP):Hundreds of protesters drove through Bangkok’s streets on Sunday to mark the 15th anniversary of a military coup that ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. The billionaire ex-premier — now living in self-exile — has remained a prominent figure in the country’s politics […]<\/p>\n
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