One week on, Thai protesters feeling the heat

BANGKOK, Mar 19: A Thai man has died while taking part in anti-government protests that began a week ago and show no sign of letting up despite searing heat, sore throats and frayed tempers.

Kimleng Sae Lee, 58, died of what police called ''sudden unexpected death syndrome'' yesterday while taking part in protests aimed at ousting Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Thai media reports said.

''He was a homeless man, but he came to join hands with us to fight tyranny,'' said Somsak Kosaisuk, one of five leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which has led the protest outside Thaksin's office since March 13.

Somsak said Lee's body would undergo an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. Police were not immediately available to comment.

Lee's death comes as police attempt to negotiate an end to the protests that have lured up to 12,000 people a day, taxing police attempts to keep the peace and protesters' stamina.

Although both sides appear to be going out of their way to avoid violence, police are investigating complaints by a labour leader who said he was attacked by three unidentified assailants after delivering a speech at the rally.

Police resources have been further strained by Friday's arrival of a 20,000-strong pro-Thaksin ''caravan of the poor'', camped a few kilometres away from the anti-government rally, raising fears of a potentially violent confrontation.

Somsak said the anti-Thaksin campaign, fuelled by outrage over his family's tax-free 1.9 billion dollars sale of the telecoms firm he founded to Singapore, would not budge despite the humid heat.

''The headaches and fatigue are normal,'' Somsak told Reuters.

''We are attempting to hide from the heat under trees and in tents during the daytime. At night, our activities will continue.'' MORE The PAD plans a new march toward Silom Road, Bangkok's central business district, on Tuesday to urge a boycott of all things Singaporean as nationalist fervour grows in the wake of the Shin Corp sale to Temasek [TEM.UL]. ''We will march on Silom Road in the tens of thousands to call for the boycott of Singapore businesses,'' he said.

CARRYING ON Despite the onset of Thailand's hot season, ralliers appeared prepared to stay on.

A hardcore group of protesters numbering in the hundreds lounged on plastic mats under big canvas tents alongside banners reading ''Thaksin Lies'' and ''Change Through Peace''.

Budding entrepreneurs and good samaritans picked their way through splayed legs and scattered belongings, offering services ranging from haircuts to medical care.

Headaches, fever, queasy stomachs and sore throats are the most common complaints at the medical tent run by the ''Dharma Army'', an ascetic Buddhist sect led by former general Chamlong Srimuang, another PAD leader.

''I have treated hundreds of people every day,'' said Baibuddha Asoketrakul, 45, a former nurse who joined the ''Dharma Army'' 13 years ago.

''It's from the heat and shouting 'Thaksin, Get Out' all day long. They don't drink enough water and they get a sore throat.'' The rally has also proven a lucrative centre for business.

As the sun sets, thousands of mostly middle class Bangkokians bring their children to listen to folk music and rail against the Thaksin government, big business and rampant capitalism.

Dozens of food stalls have also set up around the protest venue, hawking everything from barbequed beef to sliced fruit and squid satays.

Beef seller Chatree, 48, earned 7,000 baht (180.5 dollars) on the first day of the rally.

''If the rally keeps going, I will be here every day,'' he told Reuters, flipping strips of beef on a smokey grill.

REUTERS