Weekend Economists Down Under May 23-26, 2014

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77. THAI COUP OFFICIAL: DEMOCRACY CAUSED 'LOSSES'

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_THAILAND_POLITICS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-05-25-07-07-22

BANGKOK (AP) -- A spokesman for Thailand's coup leaders said Sunday that democracy had caused "losses" for the country, as the junta sought to combat growing international condemnation and hundreds of protesters angrily confronted soldiers in central Bangkok.

Small protests have persisted since the army seized power on Thursday after months of conflict between the elected government and a fierce opposition protest movement, and the junta has been pleading for patience.

Troops fanned out Sunday in one of Bangkok's busiest shopping districts and blocked access to the city's Skytrain in an attempt to prevent a third day of anti-coup demonstrations. They were soon met by a crowd of about 1,000 people, who shouted, "Get out, get out, get out!"

Tensions ran high, and at one point a group of soldiers was chased away by the crowds in the Ratchaprasong shopping district. By late afternoon, the protesters had moved to Victory Monument, a city landmark a few kilometers (miles) away, and their numbers had swelled past 2,000. Rows of soldiers were gathered, but troops did not move to break up the rally.