By John Roberts
World Socialist Web Site
Around 25,000 supporters of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), Thailand’s opposition coalition aligned with exiled former prime minister and billionaire businessman Thaksin Shinawatra, rallied in the centre of Bangkok on Saturday. September 19 marked three years since the toppling of the Thaksin government by the country’s armed forces.
The UDD rally demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Democratic Party-led government, new national elections and a royal pardon for Thaksin from the head of state, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. That would mean rescinding Thaksin’s corruption conviction and allowing him to return to Thailand.
The UDD had planned to march on the home of the king’s close adviser, former premier and general Prem Tinsulanonda, whom Thaksin’s supporters accuse of being the behind-the-scenes organiser of the 2006 military coup. Organisers called the march off, however, after the Abhisit government invoked the Internal Security Act and ordered the deployment of 10,000 troops and police onto the streets of Bangkok.
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