Songkran Battle for Bangkok,April 8 – 13, 2009,
red shirt pro-democracy protests in Bangkok
video special
For five days in April 2009 the “red shirt” pro-democracy movement under the umbrella of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) besieged Thailand’s Government House demanding the resignation of Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
An estimated 150,000 people attended the so-termed D-Day mass rally and over the the next five days the gatherings were still attracting large crowds. On the fifth day the situation deteriorated with increasing levels of violence as the red shirts grabbed control of areas outside of the protest area.
On the sixth day the violence unexplainably increased until protesters were battling the Thai army on the streets of Bangkok . This is a compilation documenting those days.
The are more photos and stories at Thailand pro-democracy rally, April 8, 2009 photo special
Battle for Bangkok photo special
Thailand political unrest continues as hundreds of thousands rally in Bangkok
Thailand on the edge ahead of mass pro-democracy protest
Thailand Prime Minister dead man walking as Asean leaders flee Pattaya
Monk – I saw Thai army shoot monk and people at Din Daeng
Rumours fester among Bangkok red shirts as emergency decree continues
