"Red shirt" demonstrators are loyal to Thaksin Shinawatra the ex-prime minister.
The Shinawatra government faced allegations of corruption, authoritarianism, treason, conflicts of interest, acting non-diplomatically, and muzzling of the press. Thaksin was accused of tax evasion, lèse majesté and selling national assets to international investors. Independent bodies, including Amnesty International, criticized Thaksin's human rights record.
The People's Power Party was later banned by the Supreme Court, but party members regrouped to form the Pheu Thai Party, which Thaksin also supported. Thaksin has also been a supporter, and alleged bankroller, of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (the "Red Shirts"). [That title is an oxymoron don't you think. This guy is trying to maintain his control ergo dictatorship even from a distance! (emphasis mine)] The Government revoked Thaksin's passport for his role in the UDD's protests during Songkran 2009. In 26 February 2010, the Supreme Court seized 46 billion baht of his frozen assets, after finding him guilty of abnormal wealth. In 2009 it was announced that Thaksin has obtained Montenegrin citizenship. [source: wikipedia]
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Telegraph UK
written by Ian MacKinnon in Hua Hin
Friday April 9, 2010
The spasm of violence at the compound 35 miles north of Bangkok was the most serious confrontation in nearly a month of demonstrations designed to force the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva to quit and call fresh elections.
Thousands of "red shirt" demonstrators loyal to Thaksin Shinawatra, the ex-prime minister surrounded the Thaicom compound, which was eventually abandoned by the police.
Protestors had scaled a moat guarded with razor wire to force open the front gates, a move that prompted the security forces to abandon their weapons, shields, and body armour which could be seen floating on the water. Last night the management of the company, Thaicom, agreed to put the "red shirt" protesters' fiery People TV - or PTV - back on air after negotiating with their leaders despite a government ruling that it remain blocked.
The government pulled the plug on PTV under the state of emergency decree saying that the channel that broadcasts rallies and propaganda speeches was putting out false information.
The government has deployed 30,000 personnel across the capital Bangkok which has been the focus of the demonstrations where thousands of "red shirts" have blocked roads and shut glitzy shopping malls since the weekend.
A court issued arrest warrants for 17 "red shirt" leaders - including the three most senior - but all are still conducting their rallies and so far none of them have been seized.
Mr Abhisit had been due in Hanoi at a summit south-east Asian leaders, but cancelled his trip at the last moment in order manage the increasingly-tense situation at home, though he shows no signs of bowing to the protesters' demands.
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