Embattled Thai leader faces stepped-up pressure

Monday, September 1, 2008
The Associated Press

BANGKOK, Thailand: Protesters demanding Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's resignation vowed Monday to target the government's water supply and cause more disruption to travelers to force him from office after an emergency parliamentary debate failed to resolve Thailand's political crisis.

Samak canceled an official three-day trip to Japan starting Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry said, as thousands of protesters remained camped out at the grounds of his official compound for a sixth day. They have refused to budge until Samak steps down - an outcome he has repeatedly ruled out.

Samak called a special joint session of Parliament that lasted 11 hours and ended early Monday without a sofution.

"We are very disappointed that Parliament's special session ended with nothing new," said Somsak Kosaisuk, a leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, which is organizing the protests. "We have no choice now but to put more pressure on the government."

Allies of the anti-government protesters from labor unions at utility companies have threatened to switch off water and electricity to certain state offices and were meeting Monday to plot their strategy.

"The tap water at the national police headquarters and at provincial administration offices will be cut off starting Monday," said Somchai Srinewest, head of the union at Thailand's Waterworks Authority, ahead of the meeting.

Hundreds of employees from the State Railways of Thailand continued a strike that halted service Monday on 93 train lines, cutting off most long-distance service between Bangkok and the far-northern and southern parts of the country, said spokesman Phairath Rojjaroenngam. More than half of the 76 cargo trains scheduled Monday were also not running.

There was no schedule for restoring service, which has been disrupted since the strike started Friday.

Embarrassed by the strike and their inability to control it, the rail authority's seven-member board of directors resigned Monday saying they saw no other way to take responsibility for the difficulties the strike has caused to the public, the spokesman said.

Protest organizers accuse Samak's government of corruption and being a proxy for ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in a 2006 bloodless military coup sparked by the alliance's protests. Thaksin recently fled to Britain to escape corruption charges.

The People's Alliance for Democracy and their sympathizers - monarchists, the military and the urban elite - complain that Western-style democracy with one-man, one-vote gives too much weight to Thailand's rural majority, who protesters say are susceptible to vote buying that breeds corruption. Protesters also dislike the rural majority's staunch support of Thaksin and his allies.

The protest leaders want a roll back of Thailand's democratic gains in the post-1973 dictatorship era to make Parliament a body in which most lawmakers are appointed and only 30 percent elected.

Samak defended himself in Parliament, saying he was rightfully elected prime minister and criticized protesters for wanting to destroy democracy.

"I am sure that I love this country as much as anybody," he said late Sunday in Parliament. "But I love democracy much more, more than anyone who told me to resign."

Samak reiterated his refusal to bow to protesters' demands. "I will not resign or dissolve Parliament. I will not be defeated by those protesters," he said.

His comments came in response to calls from the opposition leader to dissolve Parliament and hold new elections.

"Dissolving Parliament is a way for the government to show responsibility. If you don't want to take the responsibility on your own (by resigning), take all of Parliament members with you (by dissolving it)," said Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the opposition Democrat Party.

Shortly after the debate ended early Monday, a small explosion occurred at a police booth near Samak's official compound, known as Government House, which has been taken over by protesters. The blast damaged windows, but caused no injuries. No one claimed responsibility.

Police insisted they are committed to keeping the peace, despite criticism that they have failed to keep order as protesters overran the seat of government, turning its manicured grounds into a muddy campsite with tents, portable toilets and piles of garbage.

"Police are prepared to handle the situation," said police General Jongrak Jutanond, who was named Bangkok's new police chief Monday after his predecessor was sidelined for reasons not made public. "We have enough reinforcements to prevent violence and to disperse protesters. Police will not harm the protesters."

Airports at two of Thailand's popular beach destinations - Phuket and Krabi - were shut for two days by protesters and reopened Sunday. Protesters have vowed to target airports again if Samak imposes a state of emergency.