The riot police and protesters scuffled Friday outside the United Nations Building in Bangkok, near the government compound. (Photo: Wally Santana/Associated Press)August 30, 2008
By THOMAS FULLER
The New York Times (USA)
BANGKOK — Protesters in Thailand ratcheted up their campaign to oust the government on Friday, broadening their occupation to stop trains and block provincial airports, as well as waging an unsuccessful attack on police headquarters here.
Police officers responded forcefully on Friday to protesters who approached the metropolitan police headquarters, firing tear gas into the crowd that marched beside a truck emblazoned with a sign saying, “This evil government must get out.”
About 30,000 protesters continued to occupy the prime minister’s compound in central Bangkok, forcing Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his advisers to work out of a military command post on the outskirts of the city.
Calls by the People’s Alliance for Democracy, the umbrella group of protesters, for wider participation in their movement bore some fruit on Friday, with two major labor unions representing railway workers and employees of Thai Airways, the national carrier, calling for partial strikes.
About 35 trains between Bangkok and the provinces were canceled, and images broadcast on Thai television showed groups of protesters raiding the tarmac of the airport on the resort island of Phuket as bewildered tourists looked on. Sixteen flights were canceled or diverted.
Protesters also blocked the entrance of the airports in Krabi and Hat Yai, two other tourist destinations in southern Thailand.
The antigovernment activists have been protesting almost daily since May 25, demanding that the government resign. The activists, who have strong ties to members of Thailand’s elite, accuse Mr. Samak and his allies of being proxies of Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionaire tycoon turned politician who was removed as prime minister in a 2006 military coup and who is now in Britain.
Mr. Samak and his government have shown what many analysts say is notable restraint in dealing with the protesters. The occupation of the government compound has prevented civil servants working in the prime minister’s office from coming to work since Tuesday and has shut down schools and offices in the area.
“I am the one who ordered the police to step back,” Mr. Samak said late Friday. “I promised people in this country that I would be soft and gentle,” he said. “I’ve been patient up until now. But others may not be as patient.”
Mr. Samak said Friday that he would consider declaring a state of emergency but only if the situation worsened considerably.
Sondhi Limthongkul, one of the leaders of the protests, vowed to continue occupying the prime minister’s compound until the government stepped down.
Police officers issued arrest warrants for Mr. Sondhi and eight other protest leaders on charges of insurrection, conspiracy, illegal assembly and refusing orders to disperse.
Police officers responded forcefully on Friday to protesters who approached the metropolitan police headquarters, firing tear gas into the crowd that marched beside a truck emblazoned with a sign saying, “This evil government must get out.”
About 30,000 protesters continued to occupy the prime minister’s compound in central Bangkok, forcing Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his advisers to work out of a military command post on the outskirts of the city.
Calls by the People’s Alliance for Democracy, the umbrella group of protesters, for wider participation in their movement bore some fruit on Friday, with two major labor unions representing railway workers and employees of Thai Airways, the national carrier, calling for partial strikes.
About 35 trains between Bangkok and the provinces were canceled, and images broadcast on Thai television showed groups of protesters raiding the tarmac of the airport on the resort island of Phuket as bewildered tourists looked on. Sixteen flights were canceled or diverted.
Protesters also blocked the entrance of the airports in Krabi and Hat Yai, two other tourist destinations in southern Thailand.
The antigovernment activists have been protesting almost daily since May 25, demanding that the government resign. The activists, who have strong ties to members of Thailand’s elite, accuse Mr. Samak and his allies of being proxies of Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionaire tycoon turned politician who was removed as prime minister in a 2006 military coup and who is now in Britain.
Mr. Samak and his government have shown what many analysts say is notable restraint in dealing with the protesters. The occupation of the government compound has prevented civil servants working in the prime minister’s office from coming to work since Tuesday and has shut down schools and offices in the area.
“I am the one who ordered the police to step back,” Mr. Samak said late Friday. “I promised people in this country that I would be soft and gentle,” he said. “I’ve been patient up until now. But others may not be as patient.”
Mr. Samak said Friday that he would consider declaring a state of emergency but only if the situation worsened considerably.
Sondhi Limthongkul, one of the leaders of the protests, vowed to continue occupying the prime minister’s compound until the government stepped down.
Police officers issued arrest warrants for Mr. Sondhi and eight other protest leaders on charges of insurrection, conspiracy, illegal assembly and refusing orders to disperse.
10 comments:
Civil war coming to Siam!!! If so, Thai economy will shamble and collapse. And will never recover to present stage.
they like being told what to do. These protestors have a childlike mentality. They follow a leader blindly, turn and jump and you'll be sure they do it.
Its like playing Simon says with some mysterious figure behind the command.
They are paid 500 bhats each protestor. We asked them why protest? They answered "Samak is a fool." That is all they know how to day. The biggest guy behind sits on his golden chair with 35Billion USD is laughing inside.
They are paid 500 bhats each protestor. We asked them why protest? They answered "Samak is a fool." That is all they know how to say. The biggest guy behind sits on his golden chair with 35Billion USD is laughing inside.
I wonder if we have this protest in Cambodia? What happened to these protesters? Willl the
cambodian prime minister let it happen? We need the protesters take over the Hun's office.
PAD is a group of foolsih people being used by a big guy in on the golden chair. He wants Samak to show his strength. Can Samak invade Cambodia?
They were paid 400 bath each by the PAD to cause trouble at the Khmer-Thai border.
Thai Airways just lost 274 million dollars this year and plans to lay off 400 staff.
Thailand used to watch Cambodia suffering and now it's Cambodia turn to watch Thailand suffering.
Good, then more boys will go for sex change to be girls so they can be protitutes.
The protest on the street in this magnitude in THAILAND and no violence retribution from the govt tell me that THAI democracy is much more mature than the khmer.If it were in Cambodia HUN SEN will crush them since day one except the THAI occupation at preah vihea.The bastard khmer prime minister has used heavy hand only against his own people.
AH Sondhi Limthongkul is a fucken crazy little man with no vision for Thailand! This mother fucker has too much personal conflict and personal interest for him to speak for the interest of Thailand! How can he claim to do good for Thailand when this bastard is willing to shut down the airport, the train station, the government office, and the school... It is so sad that Samak is choosing the high road to allow AH Sondhi Limthongkul step all over his head!
It is very funny to see Sondhi Limthongkul lead 30,000 protesters to make million and million of Thai population to go his evil way! So tell me! It takes 30,000 protesters to convince million and million of Thai population that Samak is an evil leader? Well! The fact that million and million of Thai population didn’t chose to join AH Sondhi Limthongkul says it all!
Post a Comment