Police block the anti-government crowd near Government House in Bangkok May 31, 2008. Anti-government protests on the streets of Bangkok have knocked Thai stocks sharply lower, as investors already fretting over slower exports and soaring inflation worry another coup may be on its way. Picture taken May 31, 2008. REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang June 3, 2008
By THOMAS FULLER
The New York Times (USA)
BANGKOK — Only five months after national elections ended military rule here, a week of street protests has weakened the coalition government and highlighted the country’s failure to move beyond the stalemate that has frozen politics here for more than two years.
Thousands of protesters have set up camp near the prime minister’s office, turning a major intersection in front of the United Nations offices into a round-the-clock carnival of protest songs, fiery speeches and — because this is Thailand — vendors hawking many types of sausages, smoked squid and green mangos.
The protesters are in the streets for many of the same reasons that they were two years ago: They want to see the former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, put on trial for corruption. Mr. Thaksin, who was overthrown in a 2006 coup, returned to the country in February as an ally of the current government. The protesters are also defending the aging king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, from what they see as attacks on the institution of the monarchy. And they are distrustful of a government that received the core of its support from the countryside.
“The government didn’t win the vote among educated people,” said Somsak Kosaisook, one of the organizers of the protest. The poor and uneducated were “trapped” into voting for the government, he said.
While the protesters appeared to have strong support, they also elicited concern and criticism from a nation that remains deeply divided and worn down by two years of political battles with no clear resolution in sight.
Thailand, more liberal and pluralistic than the neighboring democracies of Malaysia and Cambodia, has a long tradition of street protests. But unlike the antigovernment protests of previous years, the current round aims to take down a democratically elected government, not military rulers.
“It’s a dangerous trend,” said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University. “I’m not a fan of the PPP,” he said of the governing party, “but you have an elected government, and you have 10,000 people taking to the streets who want to overthrow it.”
Newspapers have highlighted the plight of students and commuters inconvenienced by the noise of the protest and the traffic jams that it causes. And there have been rumors of a possible military coup.
But many also blame the government for mishandling the protests. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej Samak threatened Saturday to clear away the demonstrators by force. He later backed down.
“The prime minister should have engaged these people from the beginning,” said Panitan Wattanayagorn, an expert on Thai politics, also at Chulalongkorn in Bangkok.
Protesters took to the streets, Mr. Panitan said, because they realized that they were not getting their way in Parliament. They opposed a plan by the government to amend the Constitution written under the military government and called for the resignation of Jakrapob Penkair, a minister whom they accused of insulting the king in comments to foreign correspondents last August.
After veiled threats by the military of another coup, Mr. Jakrapob resigned on Friday, and the government backed down from its plan to amend the Constitution.
Minor parties in Mr. Samak’s governing coalition have met to discuss the future of the alliance.
“Samak has been severely weakened,” Mr. Thitinan said. “This may lead to his downfall.”
Mr. Somsak, the protest leader, says that “in principle” that the demonstrations will continue until Mr. Samak steps down. On the slowest day, he says, his movement receives around $30,000 in donations from the public, so he will not have any trouble continuing the protest.
His main target, he said, was Mr. Thaksin, who he believes is influencing the government from behind the scenes.
“This is the No. 1 reason people have come here to protest,” Mr. Somsak said. “Everyone wants to see him go on trial.”
Mr. Thaksin returned in February to crowds of cheering supporters. He has vowed to stay out of politics and faces charges of corruption. Yet despite his lower profile, he has retained a remarkable ability to divide the country.
Among the crowd on a recent evening, when the number of protesters swelled to several thousand, were a business school student, a retired soldier, the owner of a small electronics shop and a factory owner. They vented their animus toward Mr. Thaksin.
“This could last a year,” Mr. Somsak said.
Thousands of protesters have set up camp near the prime minister’s office, turning a major intersection in front of the United Nations offices into a round-the-clock carnival of protest songs, fiery speeches and — because this is Thailand — vendors hawking many types of sausages, smoked squid and green mangos.
The protesters are in the streets for many of the same reasons that they were two years ago: They want to see the former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, put on trial for corruption. Mr. Thaksin, who was overthrown in a 2006 coup, returned to the country in February as an ally of the current government. The protesters are also defending the aging king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, from what they see as attacks on the institution of the monarchy. And they are distrustful of a government that received the core of its support from the countryside.
“The government didn’t win the vote among educated people,” said Somsak Kosaisook, one of the organizers of the protest. The poor and uneducated were “trapped” into voting for the government, he said.
While the protesters appeared to have strong support, they also elicited concern and criticism from a nation that remains deeply divided and worn down by two years of political battles with no clear resolution in sight.
Thailand, more liberal and pluralistic than the neighboring democracies of Malaysia and Cambodia, has a long tradition of street protests. But unlike the antigovernment protests of previous years, the current round aims to take down a democratically elected government, not military rulers.
“It’s a dangerous trend,” said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University. “I’m not a fan of the PPP,” he said of the governing party, “but you have an elected government, and you have 10,000 people taking to the streets who want to overthrow it.”
Newspapers have highlighted the plight of students and commuters inconvenienced by the noise of the protest and the traffic jams that it causes. And there have been rumors of a possible military coup.
But many also blame the government for mishandling the protests. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej Samak threatened Saturday to clear away the demonstrators by force. He later backed down.
“The prime minister should have engaged these people from the beginning,” said Panitan Wattanayagorn, an expert on Thai politics, also at Chulalongkorn in Bangkok.
Protesters took to the streets, Mr. Panitan said, because they realized that they were not getting their way in Parliament. They opposed a plan by the government to amend the Constitution written under the military government and called for the resignation of Jakrapob Penkair, a minister whom they accused of insulting the king in comments to foreign correspondents last August.
After veiled threats by the military of another coup, Mr. Jakrapob resigned on Friday, and the government backed down from its plan to amend the Constitution.
Minor parties in Mr. Samak’s governing coalition have met to discuss the future of the alliance.
“Samak has been severely weakened,” Mr. Thitinan said. “This may lead to his downfall.”
Mr. Somsak, the protest leader, says that “in principle” that the demonstrations will continue until Mr. Samak steps down. On the slowest day, he says, his movement receives around $30,000 in donations from the public, so he will not have any trouble continuing the protest.
His main target, he said, was Mr. Thaksin, who he believes is influencing the government from behind the scenes.
“This is the No. 1 reason people have come here to protest,” Mr. Somsak said. “Everyone wants to see him go on trial.”
Mr. Thaksin returned in February to crowds of cheering supporters. He has vowed to stay out of politics and faces charges of corruption. Yet despite his lower profile, he has retained a remarkable ability to divide the country.
Among the crowd on a recent evening, when the number of protesters swelled to several thousand, were a business school student, a retired soldier, the owner of a small electronics shop and a factory owner. They vented their animus toward Mr. Thaksin.
“This could last a year,” Mr. Somsak said.
21 comments:
How many Coup this King did?
The King may want to overthrow this new government because of China pressure that he put back Taksin? This King is the most powerful and richest King on earth.
His Queen has more diamond than Queen Elizabeth. Many T'ais still believed The King killed his old brother who was King before him?
But his family dynasty Chakri was powerful and they ruled over Cambodia. Some history wrote he has Khmer Morn Blood, so he also distant relative to Sihanouk?
Most kings (if not all) in the region are really distance relative to one another. How can they not be? I mean over those centuries of times. The only reason they don't recognized each other is because they can't stand each other from some stupid disagreements, just as what we have been seen all along today in Cambodia. However, I like to point out that instead of fighting the dispute themselves, foreigners, such as Thai, lao, or Viet (which are really different chinese based people,) was always invited to mingle in the Khmer's battle and nothing has changed today. One would have to be blind not to see this pattern that is shown before our naked eye today. But nonetheless, most people in the region are still khmer. The name calling (like Thai, Lao, or Yuon) is only from the loser (in this case Khmer-Cambodia who happened to always be on side of the stick.)
Matter of fact, in Thailand King's court inside the palace they still practice Khmer's royal language. Believe me they do. Of course, this Thai King is having Khmer's blood in him.
It won't surprised me a bit.
And for their international instuments show in Bangkok, the Thai had failed to prove the judge how they are orignated. Then the judge went to ask the Cambodian representative how the instruments started or orignated we can tell them all. They said Thai had stolen all Khmer's cultures and claims as their. Nowaday, Thai going around the the Kingdom of Cambodia to buy all historical items such oxen's racing cart to put in their museum to show the world that they are orignal Khmer.
With this political challenges in Bangkok right now the Thai will face civil war soon!!!!!
Recently as I made commented on (KI-MEDIA, SIAM! you are still be thetf for ever, even though you successfully named your Country From SIAM to bacame (THAILAND) in 1937 as it's today, but you still A BIG SIAMESE THEIVES. you know what right or wrong will prevail. Though you're next, your day of harmony is near; not much forest left to be hiding, you beter to learn how to speak Khmer from now on.
May Budha bless Khmer all, and Sdach- Ta
lol harmony is peace.
Harmony definiton is PEACE. So, you meant their still at peace?
Thanks 10:22Pm I have missed spelling, I mean (Harmony is nealy ended). instead of (harmony is near)
Thanks for correcting me.
10:01PM
Hey, what comes around it will go around. Yesterday years was Thailand in the future isn't Thai any more. Could be Khomland which Khmer also related to that. Burma called us Cambodian (KHOM).
from the look of things in thailand, it seems like there is a small special interest group that tend to condemn the gov't there everything someone is trying to do the right thing in thailand. they tend to want to sabotage what their good leaders wanted to achieve, especially with cambodia, then they seem to want o oust, protest or coup those good leaders out of office for what seems like the leaders are doing the right things. sometimes, one has to wonder what is doing on in thailand behind closed doors. i have a gut feeling someone high in there is behind all the seemingly chaos internal political scene in thailand; i mean an extreme someone. it makes you wonder! god bless cambodia.
that's right , and no wonder HE is the most powerful and the most political influent figure head in the country. If you know who HE is . Thialand is now seemingly divided. and those small group is really Thai-head. but the majority are still khmer-blood. I think the history of thia and Khmer are so mistery. how can we prove that the Tai speaking people are really Thai not khmer. what happen when their immigrant took place , they lernt another language , just like now. so could it be the Tai is just a minority!!!? lighter skin and chinese look? How could TAI and LAO declare independent from Maha Angkor when we were so powerfull? and how could Thai become more powerful? it doesn't make sense. WHAT if khmer ppl shift the Capital to Bangkok, but then adopt the modern TAI speaking language? My mythological believe is this, Thailand and Cambodia were mon-khmer people from origin. However, Mon-khmer + TAI = Thailand. Mon-Khmer + Kamboja = Cambodia. Any one see the diffent??
Addition:
I can also see the USA and China is playing a political strategic mind in the regoin. HE perharp is trying to prevent the country from falling into China 's hand.
it Just like two brothers , one had a chinese wife and one have a india wife ...hahahha Thai,loas, Khmer are brother hood!! except vietcong! lol
and the one have indian wife is us .. HAHAHA godbless Cambodia
No, they are all khmer brotherhoods, 3:03. Vietcong is not much different from Thai and lao. As a matter of fact, there are good a number of Thai and lao ethnic living in Vietnam too, but mostly in the northern provinces.
you are fucking around fool!
No joke.
Yes you are right 6:19PM, I'm telling you one more thing, the Siamese king ALWAYS talking in Khmer languages when he is praying to: JADE BUDHA and PREAH KO PREAH KAO,( it's strictly confidential, for royal families only). There is a sacretive mysterious behind, that make the king himself have no other choice but have to speak Khmer languages.
May Budha bless Khmer all!
that makes a lot of sense. it seems khmer and thai (siem) only did not get along because of disagreement; however, if they (the two people) can overcome their disagreement to agree or accept each other, then they are really one people, despite the political disagreement, not just now but this has been going on for centuries already. who knows, perhaps, one day, soon, the two people will come to realize the benefits of reconciliation and to live peacefully side by side and to help one another like a family without so much animosity by both sides. i hope that time will come, one day, again.
i wish cambodia and thailand could unite as one.
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