By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/thai-protests-1 Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Thai Protesters Storm TV Station Amid Growing Unrest World Apr 9, 2010 3:22 PM EDT Protesters in Bangkok, defying a state of emergency decree, broke into a satellite relay station on Friday in the latest move in their month-long anti-government demonstrations. The Thai “red shirt” protesters, who are mainly from the countryside and support ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, stormed the station that controls the satellite TV network they use to spread word of their rallies, which the government took off the air over concerns of the increasingly violent protests. Soon after protesters gained access, government officials announced the People’s Television Station, as it is known, would resume broadcasting. The protesters “managed to push past soldiers, who very half-heartedly put up a defense, but pretty much let them in to do what they needed to do, and they’re celebrating right now,” said Patrick Winn, who has been reporting on the demonstrations in Bangkok for GlobalPost. A state of emergency rule issued Wednesday forbids public gatherings of more than five people and bans the broadcast of anti-government information that the officials say could undermine the government or public safety, said Winn. “The big question is how much longer can this go on?,” he continued. “A lot of people in Bangkok are really frustrated by the traffic jams. They’re not big fans of these upcountry protesters. … The rallies have been going on for nearly a month now.” Hear more of our conversation via telephone here: The Associated Press ran this video report of the satellite station break-in: We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko produced multimedia web features and broadcast reports with a focus on foreign affairs for the PBS NewsHour. She has reported in places such as Jordan, Pakistan, Iraq, Haiti, Sudan, Western Sahara, Guantanamo Bay, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Turkey, Germany and Ireland. @NewsHourWorld
Protesters in Bangkok, defying a state of emergency decree, broke into a satellite relay station on Friday in the latest move in their month-long anti-government demonstrations. The Thai “red shirt” protesters, who are mainly from the countryside and support ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, stormed the station that controls the satellite TV network they use to spread word of their rallies, which the government took off the air over concerns of the increasingly violent protests. Soon after protesters gained access, government officials announced the People’s Television Station, as it is known, would resume broadcasting. The protesters “managed to push past soldiers, who very half-heartedly put up a defense, but pretty much let them in to do what they needed to do, and they’re celebrating right now,” said Patrick Winn, who has been reporting on the demonstrations in Bangkok for GlobalPost. A state of emergency rule issued Wednesday forbids public gatherings of more than five people and bans the broadcast of anti-government information that the officials say could undermine the government or public safety, said Winn. “The big question is how much longer can this go on?,” he continued. “A lot of people in Bangkok are really frustrated by the traffic jams. They’re not big fans of these upcountry protesters. … The rallies have been going on for nearly a month now.” Hear more of our conversation via telephone here: The Associated Press ran this video report of the satellite station break-in: We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now