Thailand

Thai Color Wars: Red and Yellow Shirts March in Bangkok

100,000 antigovernment and 50,000 progovernment protesters take to the streets in sign of continuing political tensions

By Nov. 24, 2013
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Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters

Antigovernment protesters gather to demonstrate against the government-backed amnesty bill at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok on Nov. 24, 2013

Updated at 2:08 a.m on Monday.

Bangkok witnessed its largest mass demonstrations for years on Sunday, as around 100,000 antigovernment and 50,000 progovernment protesters gathered around the city in scenes reminiscent of the deadly political unrest of April-May 2010.

However, the Thai capital remained generally calm at the weekend despite the fervent animosity between Red Shirt supporters of current Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and their Yellow Shirt rivals.

The latter, a coalition of royalist and largely urban elites who largely back the opposition Democrat Party, have been protesting a now stalled amnesty bill that would allow Thaksin Shinawatra, the ousted former Prime Minister and Yingluck’s brother, to return to the country from exile.

On Monday, anti-government protests continued at 13 locations across Bangkok, causing schools to be closed and other major disruption along march routes.

PHOTOS: Thailand’s Color War: Why Red Hates Yellow

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