Latest news with #demonstrators
New York Times
20 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Thai Protesters Vent Their Exasperation With the Prime Minister
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Bangkok on Saturday to call for the resignation of Thailand's prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, whose leaked phone conversation with Cambodia's de facto leader has stirred growing anger. As of Saturday afternoon, more than 6,000 demonstrators had gathered at the Victory Monument, a war memorial, according to the police. The protests, which persisted through a heavy downpour, were largely peaceful, but they add to the pressure on Ms. Paetongtarn after the call, which captured her appearing to disparage her own country's powerful military and taking a deferential tone. The protests are being closely watched in a country where public demonstrations have precipitated the downfalls of previous governments. The turmoil has also stoked fears that the military could intervene. Though coups have been a regular feature of Thailand's modern history, analysts say they do not think one is likely now. Thailand in the past week has been gripped by the revelations of the June 15 call between Ms. Paetongtarn and Hun Sen, who was Cambodia's prime minister for decades and remains head of the country's People's Party. In the audio, Ms. Paetongtarn, 38, called Mr. Hun Sen, 72, 'uncle' and told him that she would 'arrange' anything that he wants. 'This prime minister is selling out the nation,' said Patcharee Twitchsri, 66, a former insurance agent. 'She is doing everything for her personal gain. Also, she has no experience.' Ms. Paetongtarn, who has condemned the leak, said she was merely using a negotiation tactic to address a simmering border dispute. On Saturday, visiting Chiang Rai to monitor flood conditions, she told reporters that it was the protesters' right to call for her resignation, and said that she was open to discussing matters peacefully. 'I don't intend to retaliate,' she said. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Togo's Dynasty Faces Mounting Protests Over Decades-Long Rule
Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, whose family has run the West African nation for 58 years, faces mounting protests fanned by a maneuver that has set him up to rule for life. Hundreds of demonstrators marched in the capital, Lome, on Thursday to demand his exit and will do so again on Friday and Saturday, said David Dosseh, a spokesman for Front Citoyen Togo Debout, an umbrella civil society group. The protests followed demonstrations on June 5 and 6.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Washington Post
Man indicted on 12 hate crime charges in attack on Boulder demonstration for Israeli hostages
DENVER — A man accused of hurling Molotov cocktails at a group of people demonstrating in Boulder, Colorado , in support of Israeli hostages has been indicted by a federal grand jury on 12 hate crime counts. Mohamed Sabry Soliman was initially charged with only one hate crime count in federal court in the June 1 attack on demonstrators. The federal grand jury indictment, which was filed in court Tuesday, had been expected for weeks as a formality in advancing the felony criminal case toward trial. It is routine for prosecutors to add charges beyond the crimes alleged in an initial criminal complaint.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Man indicted on 12 hate crime charges in attack on Boulder demonstration for Israeli hostages
A man accused of hurling Molotov cocktails at a group of people demonstrating in Boulder, Colorado, in support of Israeli hostages has been indicted by a federal grand jury on 12 hate crime counts. Soliman was initially charged with only one hate crime count in federal court in the June 1 attack on demonstrators. The federal grand jury indictment, which was filed in court Tuesday, had been expected for weeks as a formality in advancing the felony criminal case toward trial. It is routine for prosecutors to add charges beyond the crimes alleged in an initial criminal complaint. The indictment accuses Soliman of trying to kill eight people who were hurt by the Molotov cocktails and targeting them because of their perceived or actual national origin, which prosecutors say was their perceived or actual connection and support for Israel. He was also indicted for another hate crime for trying to kill the others at the event or nearby who were not injured. Soliman was also charged with two counts of using a fire and explosive to commit a felony and one count of possessing an explosive device while committing a felony, which are also considered to be hate crimes. Investigators say Soliman told them he had intended to kill the roughly 20 participants at the weekly demonstration on Boulder's Pearl Street pedestrian mall, but threw just two of his over two dozen Molotov cocktails while yelling 'Free Palestine.' Soliman, who is also being prosecuted in state court for attempted murder and other charges, told investigators he tried to buy a gun but was not able to because he was not a 'legal citizen.' He posed as a gardener, wearing a construction vest, to get close to the group before launching the attack, according to court documents. Federal authorities say Soliman, an Egyptian national, has been living in the U.S. illegally with his family. Soliman is being represented in state and federal court by public defenders who do not comment on their cases to the media. At a hearing last week, Soliman's defense attorney, David Kraut, urged Magistrate Judge Kathryn Starnella not to allow the case to move forward because he said the alleged attack was not a hate crime. Instead, he said it was motivated by opposition to the political movement of Zionism. An attack motivated by someone's political views is not considered a hate crime under federal law. Soliman is scheduled to appear in federal court on Friday for a hearing in which he may be asked to enter a plea to the charges.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Eight deaths reported, over 400 injured in Kenya protests
Protesters scatter as police fire teargas at them during a demonstration in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga) NAIROBI -- At least eight people died and 400 were injured during nationwide anti-government protests in Kenya on Wednesday a year after deadly demonstrations against a tax bill, the national rights watchdog said. Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets to commemorate last year's demonstrations, in which more than 60 people died, with police firing tear gas and water cannons to disperse them in the capital Nairobi, according to local media and a Reuters witness. Some protesters clashed with police, and the government-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said late Wednesday that eight deaths had been reported across the country, all 'allegedly from gunshot wounds.' 'Over 400 casualties have been reported, including demonstrators, police officers and journalists,' KNCHR said in a statement shared on its official X account. The watchdog did not say who had shot the victims, noting heavy police deployment and 'allegations of excessive use of force, including rubber bullets, live ammunition and water cannons, resulting in numerous injuries.' Kenyan police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the KNCHR statement. An official at the capital's main Kenyatta National Hospital said the facility had received dozens of wounded people. '107 admitted, most with gunshot injuries,' the source said, referring to rubber bullets and live rounds. He added that no deaths had been reported at KNH. National electricity provider Kenya Power said one of its security guards was shot dead during the protests while patrolling its headquarters in Nairobi. Large crowds were seen earlier heading in the direction of State House, the president's official residence, in scenes broadcast by Kenyan channel NTV before it and another broadcaster KTN were pulled off the air after defying an order to stop live broadcasts of the demonstrations. Both channels resumed broadcasts later on Wednesday after a court in Nairobi suspended the order issued by the Communications Authority of Kenya. Anger against police Protesters torched court facilities in Kikuyu town on the outskirts of Nairobi, Citizen TV reported. Flames and thick smoke billowed from the court building in a video posted on the broadcaster's X account. Isolated clashes were reported in the port city of Mombasa, according to NTV, with protests also in the towns of Kitengela, Kisii, Matuu and Nyeri. Although last year's protests faded after President William Ruto withdrew proposed tax hikes, public anger has remained over the use of excessive force by security agencies, with fresh demonstrations this month over the death of a blogger in police custody. Six people, including three police officers, were charged with murder on Tuesday over the killing of 31-year-old blogger and teacher, Albert Ojwang. All have pleaded not guilty. Ojwang's death has become a lightning rod for Kenyans still mourning those who perished at last year's demonstrations, blamed on security forces, against a backdrop of dozens of unexplained disappearances. 'We are fighting for the rights of our fellow youths and Kenyans and the people who died since June 25... we want justice,' Lumumba Harmony, a protester, told Reuters in Nairobi. The unprecedented scenes on June 25, 2024, showing police firing at protesters as they broke through barriers to enter parliament, created the biggest crisis of Ruto's presidency and sparked alarm among Kenya's international allies. By Edwin Okoth, Humphrey Malalo and Vincent Mumo (Reporting by Nairobi newsroom; Writing by Ammu Kannampilly; Editing by Alexandra Hudson, Bernadette Baum, Philippa Fletcher)
