Red Shirts Test Thai Limits
PATTAYA, Thailand—Four months after their marathon Bangkok street protests ended in a bloody crackdown, Thailand’s antigovernment Red Shirt protesters are testing the limits of what political and military leaders will allow, with a large fund-raising concert in this bawdy seaside resort and another rally planned for the capital.
The movement’s leaders have set themselves a specific goal—the release of opposition activists arrested in the aftermath of May’s demonstrations. In their Bangkok rally, set for Sept. 17, they plan to lay red roses outside the prison where several Red Shirt leaders are being held on terrorism charges. They are also encouraging supporters to stage other events to commemorate the 91 people killed during clashes between protesters and government security forces.
