"Red Shirt" protesters in show of strength as they mark anniversary
(12 Mar 2011) 1. Wide of anti-government Red Shirt demonstrators cheering 2. Mid of the protesters cheering with clappers and banners in their hands 3. Close of a Red Shirt protester wearing red outfit 4. Close of a banner of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra with an English caption 'Symbol of Democracy' 5. Wide of a big screen showing what's happening on the stage 6. Mid of demonstrators listening to speeches given by speakers 7. Close of an elderly protester smiling 8. Mid of recently-released former Red Shirt key leader Nattawut Saikua waving at the crowd 9. Close of Nattawut speaking through a microphone 10. Pan of the crowd waving and cheering 11. SOUNDBITE (Thai) Nattawut Saikua, former Red Shirt leader: "We gather to call for justice for our Red Shirt brothers and sisters who have been killed, injured or detained. Regarding this issue, whether the parliament dissolution will take place or not, the duty to grant justice to the people is what this country's authorities must carry out." 12. Wide of speakers talking on the stage 13. UPSOUND (Thai) Thaksin Shinawatra, former Thai prime minister, speaking from unknown location in video message broadcast on big screen "Brothers and sisters, the next election will be another test that can prove if those in power will respect the people's decision." 14. Wide of the protest scene at night 15. Mid of protesters cheering behind an origami crane hung from barricade STORYLINE: Tens of thousands of anti-government "Red Shirts" protesters rallied in a show of strength in Thailand's capital on Saturday as the country prepared for an electoral battle. The demonstration came just a day after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he would dissolve parliament by early May, with elections expected by July - at least six months early. The Red Shirts' rally marked the anniversary of the start of their two-month protest last year that deteriorated into a violent confrontation that left 91 people dead and more than 14-hundred injured. The protesters had been demanding early elections, claiming Abhisit came to power through undemocratic means. Saturday's gathering at Bangkok's Democracy Monument was probably their biggest so far this year, with police estimating the crowd at 30-thousand. It was also the first joint appearance on stage of the group's top leaders since they were freed on bail late last month after being detained on terrorism charges last May. One of them, Nattawut Saikua, told reporters at the protest site that the group would struggle for justice for members killed, injured or detained during last year's unrest. The Red Shirts' leaders have said they will run in the next elections, partly to gain parliamentary immunity against future arrest. Thaksin himself also spoke to the crowd by video link from overseas. "Brothers and sisters, the next election will be another test that can prove if those in power will respect the people's decision," he told the protesters. Saturday's rally and Abhisit's election announcement - which fell short of a pledge - set up a new round in a political war that has been raging since 2006, when the military toppled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a coup. The military's move came after months of protests alleging Thaksin was corrupt and had treated the country's esteemed King Bhumibol Adulyadej with disrespect. Thaksin's supporters came back to win elections in December 2007, only to be forced from power a year later by a combination of judicial and legislative maneouvring. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
