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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Tight security for Thai protest | Tight security for Thai protest |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Security is tight in parts of the Thai capital, Bangkok, for a rally by a protest group which is demanding the government step down. | Security is tight in parts of the Thai capital, Bangkok, for a rally by a protest group which is demanding the government step down. |
| Thousands of police were deployed as the People's Alliance for Democracy began a march on Government House. | Thousands of police were deployed as the People's Alliance for Democracy began a march on Government House. |
| The PAD, mostly made up of middle-class Bangkok residents, say the government is a proxy for Thaksin Shinawatra, who the military ousted in a 2006 coup. | The PAD, mostly made up of middle-class Bangkok residents, say the government is a proxy for Thaksin Shinawatra, who the military ousted in a 2006 coup. |
| They have been protesting in Bangkok since late May. | They have been protesting in Bangkok since late May. |
| The group led the massive anti-Thaksin street protests that preceded the 2006 coup, but the demonstrations this time have so far remained small. | The group led the massive anti-Thaksin street protests that preceded the 2006 coup, but the demonstrations this time have so far remained small. |
| Nonetheless the PAD say they will continue to demonstrate until the government steps down. Earlier this week, key unions added their backing. | Nonetheless the PAD say they will continue to demonstrate until the government steps down. Earlier this week, key unions added their backing. |
| Deep divisions | Deep divisions |
| Ahead of the protest, police closed down the area around Government House. | Ahead of the protest, police closed down the area around Government House. |
| Schools and offices nearby had been ordered to shut, a government spokesman said. | Schools and offices nearby had been ordered to shut, a government spokesman said. |
| Metropolitan Police chief Lt-Gen Aswin Kwanmuang called for calm. | Metropolitan Police chief Lt-Gen Aswin Kwanmuang called for calm. |
| "We urge the PAD not to damage the country further. Political problems should be solved in parliament, not on the street," Reuters news agency quoted him as saying. | "We urge the PAD not to damage the country further. Political problems should be solved in parliament, not on the street," Reuters news agency quoted him as saying. |
| The protests have put Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej under increasing pressure. | The protests have put Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej under increasing pressure. |
| His People Power Party - made up of Mr Thaksin's allies - won the elections in December 2007 that returned Thailand to democracy. | His People Power Party - made up of Mr Thaksin's allies - won the elections in December 2007 that returned Thailand to democracy. |
| But the deep divisions that contributed to the military coup remain. | But the deep divisions that contributed to the military coup remain. |
| Mr Samak and Mr Thaksin enjoy strong support in rural areas, but are deeply disliked by Bangkok's traditional elite. | Mr Samak and Mr Thaksin enjoy strong support in rural areas, but are deeply disliked by Bangkok's traditional elite. |
| And the new government's recent moves to amend a military-backed constitution approved before last year's elections have angered opponents. | And the new government's recent moves to amend a military-backed constitution approved before last year's elections have angered opponents. |
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