Thailand's Queen Sirikit (left) donated 1 million baht (S$42,895) to help treat the injured, including the dozens of police officers hurt, although the PAD trumpeted the cash as a gesture of support from the palace, a very powerful moral and social force in Thailand. -- ST PHOTO: TAN SUAN ANN
BANGKOK - THAILAND'S revered Queen Sirikit attended the funeral on Monday of an anti-government protester killed in clashes with police a week ago, the strongest sign yet of royal backing for the five-month-old street movement.
Thousands of members of the staunchly royalist People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) chanted 'Long Live Her Majesty' as her motorcade arrived at the cremation of 28-year-old Angkana Radappanyawuthi.
Angkana died from chest injuries after police fired teargas into the crowd protesting outside parliament last Tuesday.
Another man died in a car bomb and nearly 500 were injured in the worst street violence in Bangkok in 16 years.
The PAD, a coalition of royalist businessmen, activists and academics, said the funerals had prompted it to cancel a protest march to police headquarters on Monday, easing immediate fears of a repeat of the violence. The march will happen on Wednesday.
The queen donated 1 million baht (S$42,895) to help treat the injured, including the dozens of police officers hurt, although the PAD trumpeted the cash as a gesture of support from the palace, a very powerful moral and social force in Thailand.
Several advisers to King Bhumibol Adulyadej and commanders of the army, navy and air force also attended the funeral at a Buddhist temple in a quiet Bangkok suburb.
Top police officers involved in the clash were not invited.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat expressed sorrow for the deaths, and urged the PAD to leave the Government House compound they have occupied since late Aug.
However, Mr Somchai, brother-in-law of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra and the PAD's main target, said he would not resign or call a snap election, saying neither would resolve Thailand's fundamental problems.
His chief spokesman told reporters Somchai was due to brief the king at his seaside palace on the current political situation later on Monday.
'He is not going to tender his resignation, but to show his determination to continue to work for the country,' spokesman Nattawut Saikuar said.
Thailand's political crisis dates back to late 2005, when the PAD first started its street protests against then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. It has meandered through a military coup to elections and back to street protests. -- REUTERS
