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Thailand protest fizzles in dramatic about-face
By MICHAEL CASEY,Associated Press Writer AP - Wednesday, April 15
BANGKOK - They paralyzed the capital, shut down a major Asian summit and promised "revolution." And then, with little warning, thousands of Thai protesters packed their bags and went home.
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A day after the red-shirts _ mostly followers of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra _ burned buses, seized intersections and vowed to make their last stand, their leaders called it quits Tuesday and handed themselves over to police. They were followed by several thousand dejected supporters, who silently walked to waiting government buses.
The angry calls for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to "get out" gave way to tears and the grim reality that the unarmed protesters were no match for the scores of soldiers armed with M-16 assault rifles who had encircled the group's makeshift compound outside the seat of government.
Wearing buttons and a T-shirt expressing love for Thaksin, the movement's guiding hand, Siri Kadmai insisted the protesters had not lost the fight but were just making a strategic withdrawal.
"We were only in a disadvantageous position," said Siri, 45, waiting to board one of the idling tour buses. "We only have hearts. We don't have weapons."
It was a dramatic transformation from the triumphant flag-waving and macho posturing of previous days. Nearly 100,000 protesters virtually paralyzed downtown Bangkok on Thursday and then a smaller group stormed the 16-nation Asian summit Saturday in the seaside resort of Pattaya, forcing its cancellation.
Groups of demonstrators fanned out across Bangkok on Sunday and Monday, burning buses and tossing Molotov cocktails at security forces before retreating by the evening to the safety of their tent camp at Government House. Two people were killed and 123 wounded.
Authorities regained control of most streets by Monday night and warned they were ready to move against the protesters who had been camped out since March 26. Protest leaders vowed this would be their last stand, but most of their followers began heading home by Tuesday morning, fearing for their safety.
With only 2,000 supporters left, four of their leaders walked out of the compound and handed themselves over to waiting police. They were not handcuffed and escorted to a pickup truck where they were allowed to give one more speech.
"We have decided to call off the rally today because many brothers and sisters have been hurt and killed," said protest leader Suporn Attawong. "Today we stop only to save ourselves and our brothers and sisters. We can come back and fight again."
A few women nearby began singing mournfully while a lone woman cried and repeatedly yelled, "I want democracy" in English.
Then, the crowds of supporters dutifully lined up, showed their identification cards and were led to the waiting buses that took them home.
There were no confrontations with the troops nor any visible anger. Many looked broken, tired and almost in shock that their dreams of what Thaksin described a "revolution" had unraveled so quickly.
In the end, even the police struck a tender note.
"Please take care of your children and the elderly. Please be careful and if you need anything, let the police know," one police commander said through a megaphone. "While you are waiting (for the buses), please stay in the shade."
By afternoon the buses were gone, five leaders had been hustled off to a nearby police station for interrogation, and the group's once sprawling compound was virtually empty, except for street sweepers and police relaxing in the shade.
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