Thousands of Thai Protesters Storm Gov Buildings in Bangkok

Thousands of Thai Protesters Storm Gov Buildings in Bangkok

USA Today: BANGKOK — Tens of thousands of protesters in Thailand’s capital overran several buildings and cut power to the Finance Ministry on Monday in a stepped-up campaign to topple the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Protesters say they want to paralyze the government by forcing civil servants to stop working. They sang, danced and blew whistles in the hallways of government buildings. The government called the protests an illegal attempt at a coup; opposition spokesperson Akanat Promphan described the protest as a “peaceful sit-in.” Protesters say they are upset because they feel the government is run by Yingluck’s brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by the military in 2006 and convicted of criminal corruption charges in 2008. The U.S. Embassy in Thailand issued an advisory Monday, advising American citizens to avoid areas of demonstrations and exercise caution in the vicinity of any large gatherings. On Sunday, more than 150,000 demonstrators held a rally at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument in the largest anti-government gathering seen in Thailand in years. On Monday, protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban led crowds to several spots across Bangkok, snarling traffic.

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