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Thai Protesters Parade Dead from Weekend Clashes

   Daniel Schearf | Bangkok 12 April 2010
   An anti-government funeral procession travels in Bangkok

Photo: AP

   An anti-government funeral procession travels in Bangkok, Thailand, 12
   Apr 2010

   Anti-government  protesters  in  Thailand have paraded dead bodies and
   coffins  of  fellow demonstrators in the capital, Bangkok. At least 21
   were killed, including protesters, soldiers, and a journalist Saturday
   when security forces attempted to end a month-long demonstration.
   A  convoy  of  cars,  trucks,  and motorcycles snaked through the Thai
   capital  Monday carrying at least two bodies of protesters killed late
   Saturday.
   They also carried 14 coffins to represent all the protesters killed as
   they fought with soldiers who tried to clear them from a demonstration
   area.
   Red-dressed supporters cheered as the vehicles drove by.
   Authorities  and  protesters have exchanged blame for the deaths, with
   each side saying it did not shoot at the other.

   In a national broadcast Monday Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said a
   small group among the protesters was responsible for the violence.
   He  says  they  can  see  clearly  that  a  group of people acted like
   terrorists  and  were among the group of democracy protesters. He says
   the group wanted a big change in the government.
   The  prime  minister  said he is still willing to negotiate a solution
   with  leaders  of  the  protesters.  He  says their main purpose is to
   separate  and  remove  those  who  are  causing  violence  from  those
   protesting peacefully.
   The  protesters,  known as red shirts, reject further negotiations and
   demand that Mr. Abhisit step down and call new elections.
   Tens  of  thousands  of  protesters  poured  into  Bangkok in March to
   pressure the government.
   The  demonstrations  turned to civil disobedience and lawlessness last
   week  when  protesters  occupied  a main commercial center and briefly
   broke into the parliament building and a satellite relay station.
   The  government  declared an emergency and then tried, unsuccessfully,
   to  clear  some  of  the  demonstrators,  resulting  in the deaths and
   injuries.
   The  red shirts are mainly from the countryside and say the government
   was  brought  to  power by traditional elites in Bangkok backed by the
   military rather than popular vote.
   Many   of  the  red  shirts  support  former  Prime  Minister  Thaksin
   Shinawatra  who  was  ousted  by the military in 2006. He now lives in
   exile to avoid a prison sentence for a corruption conviction.

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