Anti-government protesters battle with Thai riot policemen
Anti-government protesters carry a woman injured from tear gasSaturday, August 30, 2008
BANGKOK (AFP) — About 45 protesters used bolt cutters to break into Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's abandoned office Saturday, after five days of occupying the grounds surrounding the building in Bangkok.
One of the activists told AFP that protest leader Chamlong Srimuang had ordered them to force open the doors so that he could use the offices himself.
The so-called People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has led thousands of protesters in anti-government rallies since May, but they stepped up their campaign on Tuesday as they marched into the Government House compound and set up camp.
Thai news of the office invasion comes as Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej met with the nation's revered king on escalating protests that have closed three key airports and sparked clashes with riot police, an official said.
After the protests erupted into skirmishes with police Friday, causing minor injuries and rattling nerves in the coup-prone kingdom, Samak flew from Bangkok around midnight to the nearby town of Hua Hin to meet the king at his seaside palace.
"He reported to the king on the current situation and he will return to Bangkok today," the government official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The protesters from the so-called People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have squatted on the grounds of Samak's Government House compound for five days, demanding that he resign and accusing him of acting as a puppet for ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The same group helped topple Thaksin in 2006, and has openly called for the palace, the military and Thailand's traditional elite to take a greater role in politics.
The PAD rails against popular democracy, saying it has encouraged corruption, and in July unveiled a plan for a new system of government in which 70 percent of the seats in parliament would be appointed rather than elected.
Although the demonstrators regularly invoke the king, both in speeches and with royalist imagery, he has remained silent in the current standoff, staying away from the protests in his beachfront Klaikangwon palace, whose name means "Far from worries."
The king has little formal political power, but he holds enormous sway over his subjects and has acted as a referee during past political crises in his six decades on the throne.
After returning to Bangkok early Saturday, Samak Sundaravej was set to meet with Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn at a previously scheduled event on national reconciliation.
Despite torrential rains early Saturday, at least 6,000 protesters barricaded themselves for a fifth day inside Bangkok's main government complex.
A handful of activists wearing motorcycle helmets practiced combat techniques with homemade shields and bamboo rods. Nearby, free food was distributed to the protesters.
"We will not quit. We will not go home until we win," one woman shouted from a makeshift stage set up in their camp.
The airport on the holiday isle of Phuket -- a key magnet for international tourists -- was shut down after protesters marched on it Friday, causing the cancellation of more than 30 international and domestic flights, said Sereerat Prasutanont, president of Airports of Thailand.
"It's up to PAD protesters when they will allow the operation to resume," he told AFP.
The State Railways of Thailand, meanwhile, said about one quarter of all services had been halted since Friday, after nearly 250 drivers and mechanics called in sick to support the protests.
PAD protestors have been demonstrating against Samak since May, but they stepped up their movement on Tuesday by storming a TV station and the Government House grounds.
The turmoil has raised fears of a new coup in a country that has seen 18 military takeovers since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932.
The powerful army chief, General Anupong Paojinda has so far insisted that the military will not return to the streets.
Hoping to defuse the crisis, Samak has called for an emergency parliamentary debate on Sunday, but has refused to step down or call new elections.
One of the activists told AFP that protest leader Chamlong Srimuang had ordered them to force open the doors so that he could use the offices himself.
The so-called People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has led thousands of protesters in anti-government rallies since May, but they stepped up their campaign on Tuesday as they marched into the Government House compound and set up camp.
Thai news of the office invasion comes as Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej met with the nation's revered king on escalating protests that have closed three key airports and sparked clashes with riot police, an official said.
After the protests erupted into skirmishes with police Friday, causing minor injuries and rattling nerves in the coup-prone kingdom, Samak flew from Bangkok around midnight to the nearby town of Hua Hin to meet the king at his seaside palace.
"He reported to the king on the current situation and he will return to Bangkok today," the government official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The protesters from the so-called People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have squatted on the grounds of Samak's Government House compound for five days, demanding that he resign and accusing him of acting as a puppet for ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The same group helped topple Thaksin in 2006, and has openly called for the palace, the military and Thailand's traditional elite to take a greater role in politics.
The PAD rails against popular democracy, saying it has encouraged corruption, and in July unveiled a plan for a new system of government in which 70 percent of the seats in parliament would be appointed rather than elected.
Although the demonstrators regularly invoke the king, both in speeches and with royalist imagery, he has remained silent in the current standoff, staying away from the protests in his beachfront Klaikangwon palace, whose name means "Far from worries."
The king has little formal political power, but he holds enormous sway over his subjects and has acted as a referee during past political crises in his six decades on the throne.
After returning to Bangkok early Saturday, Samak Sundaravej was set to meet with Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn at a previously scheduled event on national reconciliation.
Despite torrential rains early Saturday, at least 6,000 protesters barricaded themselves for a fifth day inside Bangkok's main government complex.
A handful of activists wearing motorcycle helmets practiced combat techniques with homemade shields and bamboo rods. Nearby, free food was distributed to the protesters.
"We will not quit. We will not go home until we win," one woman shouted from a makeshift stage set up in their camp.
The airport on the holiday isle of Phuket -- a key magnet for international tourists -- was shut down after protesters marched on it Friday, causing the cancellation of more than 30 international and domestic flights, said Sereerat Prasutanont, president of Airports of Thailand.
"It's up to PAD protesters when they will allow the operation to resume," he told AFP.
The State Railways of Thailand, meanwhile, said about one quarter of all services had been halted since Friday, after nearly 250 drivers and mechanics called in sick to support the protests.
PAD protestors have been demonstrating against Samak since May, but they stepped up their movement on Tuesday by storming a TV station and the Government House grounds.
The turmoil has raised fears of a new coup in a country that has seen 18 military takeovers since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932.
The powerful army chief, General Anupong Paojinda has so far insisted that the military will not return to the streets.
Hoping to defuse the crisis, Samak has called for an emergency parliamentary debate on Sunday, but has refused to step down or call new elections.
6 comments:
What do they want? What happens when this govt. is ousted. What do you want to see? What next? What is the whole purpose of this puppet-like minded actions?
Who is your leader PAD?
Some said they have 5 leaders who are about to be arrested, but unanonimous source, the world richest guy is the one behind.
The richest man has to donate some of his money to his people so those teen boys won't go to have their sex change to be prostitutes like this one been carrying away.
500 bahts for one person is good money at least they have fun on the street.
EHT PAD and their hired troublemakers are a bunch of dirt bags to detain tourists. Many foreign governments and wealthy individuals who opened their hearts and wallets to the Thai people after the Tsunami and the tourists who decided to return to Thailand after the devastation and give their hard earned money to the businesses in Thailand should now boycott Thailand and write letters to the King of Thailand, The military leaders, the Current government officials and tell them to stick their beaches up their backsides. Also foreign industry should pull out and relocate in more stable countries in Asia for better business climates as punishment. If the political hacks in Thailand cannot refrain from having their “paid” insurgents from harassing, detaining, and punishing tourists who put their fears and reservations aside because they like Thailand and Thai people it is time for the foreign communities to reek havoc on the Thai rulers and slap them enough so they realize NOT TO MESS WITH THE TOURIST INDUSTRY. Shame on the powers that be that prey on people who gave from their money to Thailand and then find themselves stranded. It would be great to see the Asian and Western Communities come together and pull out until the Thai officials get the message not to mess with visitors. Make the King and Government sign an international treaty saying under no circumstances will foreigners be detained for political means under penalty of death. Go to Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, China for beaches for a decade then see how all these protesters like their lives and their ignorant followers.
No wonder Thailand has too many ladyboys. This one been carrying away is a real ladyboy. Al money goes to plastic surgery to have sex changes.
Thailand ruled and reigned by King and his Military. He is the most powerful man in Thailand.
Too much money the King got from leting the US used U Tapoa as its base to bomb Cambodia and Vietnam, and more moeny he got from letting the refugee camps in his country.
35 billion USD the King has and his Lese Majesty Laws, he is on the top of the world.
Guys your comments are terrific but if you write them at the Bangkok Post website it will have more impact. Here we don't really give a #*@.
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