An organized, monthlong protest in Bangkok began on Monday as some 100,000 demonstrators flooded the streets to oust Thailand's current prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra.
The past two months of protests to force her resignation came to a head as anti-government protestors, headed up by People's Democratic Reform Committee leader Suthep Thaugsuban, began blocking intersections and causing major traffic delays in the city's central business district early on Monday in an attempt to shut down the city and make it ungovernable. They claim Shinawatra's rule has been one of dysfunction.
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Shinawatra is the first female to hold the position in Thailand, and is also the sister of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Some of the outrage stems from the claim that Mr. Shinawatra continues to run Thailand from exile after he was removed by the military in 2006.
Police appear to have maintained a low profile since a shooting on Saturday that resulted in one fatality, resisting confrontation and arrests.
The shutdown took on a somewhat festive mood — As Reuters reported, many were dancing and singing in the streets.
Anti-government protesters occupy the victory monument in central Bangkok as part of the "shutdown Bangkok" effort which protesters hope will force a resignation by the government. The protestors stepped up efforts on Jan. 13 after more than two months of street demonstrations, in a bid to oust the government of Prime Minister Shinawatra and delay elections scheduled for Feb. 2.
The protestors camp out during the first day of the Bangkok "shutdown" on Jan. 13.
Protesters occupy a major intersection in central Bangkok.
Thai monks sit at the Democracy Monument in the early evening of Jan. 12. There is a fear of more violence and instability as the anti-government protesters move forward with a "shutdown" of Bangkok by blocking major intersections in the heart of the city.
Major intersections were shut down early Sunday evening in a major shopping district.
Thousands of anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protesters shout at the Democracy Monument on Jan. 12.
Protestors occupy the victory monument in central Bangkok as part of the effort to shut down Bangkok.
The Thai flag flies as thousands of protesters attend a rally at the Democracy Monument on Jan. 12 in Bangkok.
Thai protesters wave national flags as they march through the streets of Bangkok in a move to shut down the city on Jan. 13. Thai opposition protesters launched their attempted shutdown of Bangkok, occupying key intersections in the capital, in an escalation of their campaign to unseat Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Anti-government protesters carry a huge Thai flag as they take to the streets on Jan. 13.
A row of protesters with red, blue and white t-shirts on the first day of the Bangkok "shutdown" as protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban parades through the central business district.
Anti-government protestors occupy a downtown intersection during the first day of the mass demonstration on Jan. 13.
Anti-government protestors cheer during the first day of the mass demonstrations at a downtown intersection.
Protesters wave Thai flags while blocking off a lane on Rama 4 Road as traffic stands congested in central Bangkok on Jan. 13.
Anti-government protesters waving flags and sun umbrellas take to the streets.
An anti-government protester rides the top of a truck.
Anti-government protestors occupy a downtown intersection during the first day of a planned monthlong demonstration.
People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) leader Suthep Thaugsuban (center) parades in downtown Bangkok on Jan. 13.
Image: Ed Wray/Getty Images