Military

DATE=10/19/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=THAILAND/APEC PROTESTS (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-308792

BYLINE=NANCY-AMELIA COLLINS

DATELINE=BANGKOK

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: About one-thousand demonstrators took to the streets of Bangkok Sunday to protest the war in Iraq and globalization, as world leaders convened for the summit meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. More from Nancy-Amelia Collins in Bangkok.

TEXT: About 100 police looked on, as demonstrators peacefully took to the streets, despite an order from Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra banning demonstrations during the summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC.

Mr. Thaksin also banned some 700 foreign activists from entering the country during the economic forum.

Canadian protester Sam Barter, who lives in Thailand, says the demonstrators are not only against the war in Iraq and U-S policies, but also against the policies of APEC.

/// AMBIENT SOUND - PROTEST MARCH ///

/// BARTER ACT ///

A lot of the same actors, economic and state actors that are part of the W-T-O (World Trade Organization) and the I-M-F (International Monetary Fund), which I feel have very poor development strategies, are major parts of APEC. So we'd like them to know, peacefully. that we're here, and we'd like to work with them and try to change the systems that we consider unjust.

/// END ACT ///

/// OPT ///

Carrying posters of Mr. Bush, the protesters snaked their way down a main road to a shopping center about two kilometers from the hotel where Mr. Bush is staying.

One man, dressed all in black with a skull mask, says he is against U-S foreign policy.

/// THAI MAN ACT ///

I am a Thai. We are here to protest . Mr. George Bush. We are against his policy of aggression and try to make the whole world under his aggressive policy.

/// END ACT ///

/// END OPT ///

Metropolitan police officer Charlie Phakamand says so long as the demonstrators steer clear of APEC venues, the police will tolerate peaceful protests, which he says are part of Thai tradition.

/// PHAKAMAND ACT // OPT ///

Yes, we [Thais] want to do like tradition. Have to protest.

/// END ACT ///

One man was arrested during the demonstration as he shouted "freedom" and tussled with police. /// END OPT ///

Security remains tight in the Thai capital to thwart any terrorist attempts during the APEC meeting. (SIGNED)

NEB/HK/NAC/MH/TW