Thai nationalists clashed with police and villagers yesterday as they tried to march on an ancient temple on the Cambodian border, while anti-government protesters in the capital marked the third anniversary of a coup that continues to create political turmoil.
Hospitals said 15 people were injured, none seriously, in northeastern Sisaket Province after members of the People’s Alliance for Democracy tried to march to the gates of the temple near land claimed by both Thailand and Cambodia, demanding the Thai government seize the territory.
The alliance led demonstrations that culminated in a Sept. 19, 2006, military coup that ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on accusations of corruption, abuse of power and disrespect for the constitutional monarch, King Bhumibol Adulaydej.
Supporters of Thaksin rallied in Bangkok to mark the coup’s anniversary, with more than 6,000 police on hand to prevent a repeat of rioting that killed at least two and injured hundreds in the last major anti-government protests in April.
Yesterday’s protesters want Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to step down, claiming he came to power illegitimately with the help of the military and the judiciary. Abhisit took power late last year after Thaksin’s allies were forced out of office by court rulings of conflict of interest and electoral fraud.
Thaksin’s supporters, many from poor rural areas that benefited from his generous social welfare programs, say the coup three years ago was a major blow to Thailand’s democracy and was engineered by the country’s traditional Bangkok-centered elite.
“We are here to show that we want democracy. This government didn’t come from democracy. They’re a dictatorship in disguise,” said 62-year-old Jiraporn Litmontri from northeastern Loei Province.
Yesterday’s rally was expected to reach its height in the evening. Police said 20,000 to 30,000 people were expected, and 15,000 had arrived before heavy afternoon rain.
The clashes near Cambodia were linked to a decades-old dispute over land. The World Court in 1962 awarded control over the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia, but some surrounding land remains in dispute. The People’s Alliance for Democracy seized on the land issue last year to stir up nationalist sentiment, accusing the pro-Thaksin government of failing to protect Thai territory.
Hundreds of Thai villagers who opposed yesterday’s protest clashed with the hundreds of marchers, both sides armed with sticks and slingshots.
Taiwan last night blanked world No. 1 Japan 4-0 to win the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time. Taiwanese ace Lin Yu-min (林昱珉) held defending champions Japan to just one hit and no runs in the first four innings, before catcher Lin Chia-cheng (林家正) opened the fifth inning with a solo home run. That was soon followed by a three-run homer from Taiwanese captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) to put Taiwan ahead in the prestigious tournament of the world’s top 12 baseball teams. In addition to a superb performance from 21-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Lin, three more Taiwanese pitchers
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the world’s biggest contract chipmaker, yesterday held an equipment installation ceremony for its first 2-nanometer fab in Kaohsiung, six months ahead of schedule, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said. “To cope with the strong global demand for advanced chips, TSMC is to start moving in equipment for its first-ever 2-nanometer fab half a year earlier than scheduled,” Chen said at an question-and-answer session at the Kaohsiung City Council. TSMC’s 2-nanometer process technology would help accelerate the development of artificial intelligence (AI) applications as well as the transformation of local industries in Kaohsiung, Chen said in a
TEAM TAIWAN: While lawmakers proposed declaring Nov. 24 a national day, the CPBL commissioner urged the legislature to pass the budget for sports development Lawmakers yesterday proposed designating Nov. 24 as National Baseball Day and updating the design of the NT$500 bill to honor the national team’s victory in the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s Premier12 championship on Sunday, as thousands of fans came out to see the players parade down the streets of Taipei. Players, coaches and staff from the national team returned home on Monday night after achieving their best-ever performance in an international baseball tournament. After receiving a rapturous welcome at the airport, the players turned out yesterday for a street parade in front of thousands of adoring fans waving Taiwanese flags and
Taiwan moved clear of Mexico to be the only country at No. 2 in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Men’s Baseball World Rankings. Meanwhile, draft bills to set up a ministry of sports were approved at a joint session at the legislature in Taipei yesterday. After previously being tied with Mexico for second on 4,118 points, Taiwan moved clear on 5,498 points after they defeated Japan in the final of the WBSC Premier12 tournament on Sunday. Mexico (4,729) dropped to fourth, behind Venezuela (4,846), who finished fourth at the tournament. Taiwan narrowed the gap to first-placed Japan to 1,368 points from 1,638, WBSC
RSS