Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has cancelled his trip to Vietnam for a summit of Southeast Asian leaders to deal with mass anti-government protests in Bangkok, a minister said Thursday.
Earlier on, Thai authorities pulled the plug on the television channel of red shirted anti-government protesters, prompting an angry response from the demonstrators.
"We have successfully shut down the People's Channel (P-TV)," Satit Wonghnongtaey, minister attached to the premier's office, told AFP.
He said the station had been taken off air for inciting unrest.
The satellite TV channel's rolling coverage of the red shirt rallies was abruptly halted, leaving a blank screen.
The protesters, who have refused to end a mass rally in the capital despite a state of emergency, railed against the government's move.
"The government wrongly thinks that cutting the signal will stop Reds from gathering. We give final word to the government to connect our signal within today, otherwise people will fight for their rights," said Reds leader Nattawut Saikuar from the rally stage.
The Reds have promised another big gathering on Friday, extending more than three weeks of rolling rallies that attracted 100,000 people at their peak.
Thai PM to miss ASEAN summit due to protests: minister
Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has cancelled his trip to Vietnam for a summit of Southeast Asian leaders to deal with mass anti-government protests in Bangkok.
Source: AFP
