One dead in shooting at Thai protest site


Bangkok (AFP) - One person was shot dead on Tuesday at the site of an anti-government rally in the Thai capital Bangkok, emergency services said, in the latest in a string of violent attacks.

The 40-year-old man was killed by an unknown attacker in the early hours of the morning near the rally stage in Lumpini Park, according to the city's Erawan emergency centre.

He was working as a security guard for the anti-government movement, according to rally spokesman Akanat Promphan.

"We don't know who was responsible," he added.

Police said they had no information about the incident and had not visited the scene of the shooting.

Access to the protest site is usually restricted by the rally guards, who have fraught relations with the police.

The area near where the attack happened has been thronged with revellers celebrating the traditional Thai New Year water festival this week.

Opposition demonstrators have staged more than five months of mass street protests seeking to force Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from office.

Grenade attacks and shootings linked to the unrest have left 25 people dead and hundreds wounded in recent months, including many protesters.

The violence has eased somewhat since the rallies were scaled back at the start of March, when demonstrators abandoned their occupation of major intersections in Bangkok and converged on Lumpini Park.

The protesters want Yingluck to step down and make way for an unelected interim government to oversee reforms aimed at curbing the political dominance of her billionaire family.

Thailand has seen years of political conflict and rival street protests by opponents and supporters of her brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. He was ousted from office by a coup in 2006 and lives overseas to avoid jail for a corruption conviction.

Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month
RM5/month

Billed as RM5/month for the 1st 6 months then RM13.90 thereafters.

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

thai , protest , anti-government

   

Next In Regional

Malaysia needs time to study Asean joint visa proposal, says Home Minister
Mt Ruang: Last eruptions before Wednesday occurred in 2002, 1949
Thailand drops joint patrols with Chinese police after public backlash
Cops on the hunt for cable thieves in Ayer Hitam
Najib wanted to answer questions on money laundering in court, says investigating officer
Hearing for Siti Bainun's appeal against conviction postponed to Jan 30 next year
Biker ambushed by a tiger near Gua Musang, lives to tell his tale
Historic day for human rights in Malaysia, says Azalina
Many workers in boycott-hit companies are locals, says Rayer
Two nabbed for launching fireworks at police in Lembah Subang

Others Also Read