Bangkok anti-state protests turn violent, 2 killed, 50 injured

Updated: Monday, December 2, 2013, 10:03 [IST]

Bangkok: Anti-government protests in Bangkok turned violent on Sunday. Around 30000 people are protesting in Bangkok to overthrow the government led by prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

In last one week, at least two people have been killed and more than 50 injured in the 'people's revolution' which has turned violent. (See pictures below the article)

The two dead were a 21-year-old student anti-government protester and a 43-year-old redshirt guard. Fifty-four other people were injured.

Protesters gathered around government ministries, police headquarters, the prime minister's office and television stations etc with whistles, flags and anti-government banners on Sunday.

As the protesters tried to enter PM's office compound through concrete barriers and razor wire, police used tear gas. Shopping malls and other business enterprises were shutdown for the day.

The government on Sunday afternoon said it would send riot police to both the finance ministry and government complex in order to "reclaim space" from protesters. Unconfirmed reports say that rubber bullets were also used against demonstrators.

The protest against Yingluck is mainly because she is believed to be a puppet of her brother Thaksin, the former PM who was ousted in a military coup in 2006.

Thaksin was widely accused of being an anti-monarchist. The tycoon lives in self-imposed exile in Dubai after being convicted of corruption charges he claims were politically motivated.

The current protests are the largest since the 2010 demonstrations in which nearly 100 were killed and 2,000 injured.

In Bangkok

Thai riot policemen guard at the Royal Thai Police headquarters where anti-government protesters gather outside it

In Bangkok

Anti-government protesters march to the Royal Thai Police headquarters on Nov 28, Thursday

In Bangkok

An anti-government protester blows a giant whistle to a riot police officer outside the headquarters of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's ruling Pheu Thai Party in Bangkok