Thaksin supporters to mobilize 'million-march' in Bangkok

Saturday, 13 March 2010 01:32 PM Maui A. Hermitanio

Supporters of ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra took to the streets of Bangkok ahead of the weekend protests aimed at toppling the government.

A report from Channel News Asia stated that protesters belonging to the Red Shirt Movement began demonstrations and massed up from Thaksin’s former residence in Chang Mai to Bangkok.

The rally on Sunday is expected to be larger than the April riots that left two people dead and scores injured.

Protests supporting the exiled Thai premier started two weeks ago after a local court confiscated USD1.4 billion (P63.98 billion) of Thaksin’s allegedly ill-gotten wealth.

Thaksin, who is in self-exile in Dubai, "tweeted" his moral support to the Red Shirts "who are making a sacrifice and are coming out to write history today."

According to Agence France Presse, the Red Shirt movement targets a million-man march to the capital but Thai authorities said only 100,000 will show up.

Security had been heightened in downtown Bangkok with 50,000 security forces scattered around the city.

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