Barbed wire. Tear gas. Rubber bullets. Blood. Mix all these ingredients with thousands of furious protesters who want their leader ousted from office and you have the makings of a deadly demonstration. It’s also the current scene in Bangkok, where protesters have flooded the streets and waged a battle with security forces in an ambitious effort to cleanse the nation of its most powerful political family, the Shinawatras.
The tensions stem from the rule of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the brother of the disgraced former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who was chased from office in 2006 during a military coup and fled prior to his conviction for abusing power in 2008. The government has recently tried to give amnesty to past perpetrators of political scandals, which could pave the way for letting Thaksin Shinawatra return to the country, according to The New York Times.
Although the government has ordered the police to stop engaging demonstrators to tamp down the violence, and an upcoming holiday celebrating the birthday of the venerated former King Bhumibol Adulyadej usually puts the city in a joyous, peaceful mood, Bangkok remains on edge. The exclusive photos below, shot at the outset of the protest last week, capture the chaos and rage brimming on the streets.
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
Thousands of anti-government protesters gather at Democracy Monument in Bangkok’s old city section. The protesters, mostly middle-class Bangkok residents and people from the south of Thailand, are calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. (Vocativ/Arthur Nazaryan)
An anti-government protester away from the fray photographs the main rally at Democracy Monument on Friday evening. The protesters believe the current leader is just a stand-in for her brother, former Prime Minster Thaksin Shinawatra, who is in self-imposed exile after a bloodless coup in 2006. The anti-government protesters have the vague goal of ridding Thailand of Thaksin’s influence. (Vocativ/Arthur Nazaryan)
Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban (not pictured), the former deputy prime minister, called Sunday the day of victory, and urged his supporters to take over Government House. In response, thousands of police were deployed, and concrete barriers with razor wire were erected around the perimeter of the building. Gradually, protesters eventually managed to take down the barrier, and by Tuesday were able to briefly enter the premises as police backed off. (Vocativ/Arthur Nazaryan)
Using the power of many muscles, protesters gradually managed to dismantle the concrete barriers set up around the perimeter of Government House. (Vocativ/Arthur Nazaryan)
An anti-government protester pours water over the face of his comrade to neutralize the effects of teargas fired by police. (Vocativ/Arthur Nazaryan)
Anti-government protesters outside the Government House, including a man stripped to just his underwear and shoes, antagonize police from behind concrete barriers with fire extinguishers, fireworks and bottles. Police responded by firing teargas and water cannons at the protesters. (Vocativ/Arthur Nazaryan)
After anti-government protesters managed to dismantle the first of two rows of concrete barriers at Government House, they were able to approach riot police face-to-face. This protester approached the policemen to give them water. (Vocativ/Arthur Nazaryan)
Anti-government protesters set up a road block to prevent the movement of pro-government Red Shirt protesters to their rally site at Rajamangala National Stadium. Upon catching one pro-government protester, the mob descended on him, beat him up and tore off his shirt. (Vocativ/Arthur Nazaryan)
A pro-government protester lies in the street with a severe head wound outside Ramkhamhaeng University after students broke open the back gate of the university to confront pro-government crowds rallying at Rajamangala National Stadium, which is directly behind the university. Clashes left at least one student dead. (Vocativ/Arthur Nazaryan)
As evening descended, protesters became more belligerent and continued to pelt police with water bottles, rocks and other objects. (Vocativ/Arthur Nazaryan)
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