A group of anti-government protesters in white Guy Fawkes masks clashed with rival pro-government red shirts in Chiang Mai during a small gathering yesterday.
Thai Spring co-founders Pol Gen Vasit Dejkunjorn, right, and Kaewsun Atibodhi speak at a press conference at parliament about the group’s plan to organise online anti-government forums. CHANAT KATANYU
The number of people injured in the clash was not known at press time.
About 4.30pm yesterday, a group of about 50 members of the white-mask movement gathered in front of a 7-Eleven store on Nimanhemin Soi 13 in Muang district. Later they were confronted by a group of almost 100 Khon Rak Chiang Mai 51 red-shirt protesters.
The red shirts started by throwing rubbish at the white-masked protesters and grabbing a placard bearing the words "Bring down Thaksin regime", which provoked fisticuffs between the two groups.
The white-masked protesters fled to a commercial building nearby with the red shirts pursuing and the fight continued inside the building.
The red shirts continued their rally in front of the building with some speaking through a loudspeaker stressing their support for ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and shouting insults at the rival group.
The white-mask movement has announced that it will gather in more than 10 provinces in all regions across the country tomorrow from about 5pm onward.
The red-shirt groups also plan to gather on the same day.
In another development, Thai Spring leaders Pol Gen Vasit Dejkunjorn, former senator Kaewsun Atibodhi and his twin Kwansuang Atibodhi yesterday announced at a press conference in a room at parliament that online rallies will kick off on June 23. As a former senator, Mr Kaewsun has access to the facilities.
They announced that the "Thai Spring Forum" will be held as a series of six online rallies.
Their main targets are the government's populist policies, which they say are leading the country to disaster, the so-called "reconciliation" plans as well as corruption under the "Thaksin regime".
The rallies will be exclusively online and will not spill over into public venues, said Mr Kaewsun who was a member of the disbanded Assets Scrutiny Committee set up by the 2006 military coup leaders to probe Thaksin's assets.
Pol Gen Vasit said the rallies will provide information to the public ahead of parliament's scheduled debate on the amnesty and reconciliation bills next month.
Pheu Thai Party members were angered by the use of a room in parliament by Thai Spring to announce their plans.
Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit criticised the three leaders and called their press conference "shameful" as they had used the legislative building to attack the government.
"I condemn them for their lack of respect for the premises," he said.
Parliament should be for legislative affairs and debates, not used as a political tool for a particular group, he said, adding that the right place for a press conference was a hotel.
"Everybody knows that Mr Kaewsun is a yellow [supporter]. What would happen if the red shirts wanted to use parliament," he said.