Thousands of opposition activists paraded through Thailand’s sprawling capital yesterday in a bid to win over Bangkok’s middle classes to their anti-government campaign.
The red-shirted supporters of ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra moved around the city of 15 million people in a 13km convoy, handing out leaflets saying “We love Bangkokians” and calling on urban sympathisers to join their push for new elections.
Shaking their trademark clappers and waving flags, they moved at a snail’s pace along the 46km route in a convoy of thousands of motorcycles, taxis and overloaded pickup trucks, cheering, singing songs and honking horns.
The week-long rally drew crowds of 150,000 on some days.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva spent another day at his heavily fortified military compound. He has refused to bow to protesters’ demands for a new election, insisting the country is too divided to go to the polls.
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