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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Protesters march in Thai capital | Protesters march in Thai capital |
| (5 days later) | |
| Several thousand protesters have converged on government offices in the Thai capital Bangkok to demand that the government step down. | Several thousand protesters have converged on government offices in the Thai capital Bangkok to demand that the government step down. |
| Police lined the streets as crowds led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) marched in Bangkok. | Police lined the streets as crowds led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) marched in Bangkok. |
| 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. |
| The group has been protesting in Bangkok since late May. | The group has been protesting in Bangkok since late May. |
| It led the massive anti-Thaksin street protests that preceded the 2006 coup, but the demonstrations this time have so far remained small. | It led the massive anti-Thaksin street protests that preceded the 2006 coup, but the demonstrations this time have so far remained small. |
| Deep divisions | Deep divisions |
| Ahead of the protests, police closed down the area around Government House. | Ahead of the protests, police closed down the area around Government House. |
| Schools and offices nearby were ordered to shut. Thousands of police were deployed and barriers set up. Why is Thailand in turmoil?ln pictures: Bangkok protests | Schools and offices nearby were ordered to shut. Thousands of police were deployed and barriers set up. Why is Thailand in turmoil?ln pictures: Bangkok protests |
| The protest leaders had promised 100,000 people would join their movement to oust the government. | The protest leaders had promised 100,000 people would join their movement to oust the government. |
| In the end, only a fraction of that number showed up, according to the BBC's correspondent in Bangkok, Jonathan Head. | In the end, only a fraction of that number showed up, according to the BBC's correspondent in Bangkok, Jonathan Head. |
| But their lack of mass support belies the serious threat they still pose to the four-month-old government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, our correspondent adds. | But their lack of mass support belies the serious threat they still pose to the four-month-old government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, our correspondent adds. |
| 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 Thaksin, a telecommunications billionaire, is banned from politics, but he still enjoys strong support in rural areas. | Mr Thaksin, a telecommunications billionaire, is banned from politics, but he still enjoys strong support in rural areas. |
| He is, however, deeply disliked by Bangkok's traditional elite, who do not want him to make a political comeback. | He is, however, deeply disliked by Bangkok's traditional elite, who do not want him to make a political comeback. |
| His opponents are also angry at the new government's recent move to amend the military-backed constitution - a move they say will give obvious benefits to the People Power Party and give Mr Thaksin added protection. | His opponents are also angry at the new government's recent move to amend the military-backed constitution - a move they say will give obvious benefits to the People Power Party and give Mr Thaksin added protection. |