Police in riot gear keep guard outside southern Thailand's Hat Yai airport September 3, 2008. Thai public sector trade unions called for strikes on Wednesday, a day after the embattled prime minister imposed emergency rule in the capital and ordered the army to end months of anti-government protests. (REUTERS/Surapan Boonthanom)Wed Sep 3, 2008
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai public sector trade unions called for strikes on Wednesday, a day after the embattled prime minister imposed emergency rule in the capital and ordered the army to end months of anti-government protests.
Thousands of opposition protesters continued their sit-in at Prime Minister Samak's Sundaravej's official compound, vowing to continue their campaign until he resigns.
But Bangkok was calm on Wednesday after clashes early on Tuesday between pro- and anti-government supporters left one man dead and 45 injured, leading Samak to turn to the army to control the unrest.
The army has said it will not use force to evict protesters.
Traffic was light in the city of 10 million people because of the threat of public transport being disrupted by strikes. Also, schools remained closed for a second day following the imposition of the emergency.
In what the Bangkok Post newspaper headlined a "first hint of compromise", Sondhi Limthongkul, one of the leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), said the months-long crisis that has paralysed the government could not be resolved unless Samak left office.
"They must accept the four-point demand, and only if the prime minister is either Somchai Wongsawat or Surapong Suebwonglee," he told the newspaper, referring to Samak's education minister and finance minister respectively.
It was not immediately clear why the two men were acceptable to the opposition.
Sondhi said the government must promise not to amend the constitution; must suspend all large infrastructure projects; commit to political reform, and; accept a court decision on a temple located on land in Cambodia claimed by some in Thailand.
The Constitutional Court has ruled the government's backing of Cambodia's request to have the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple listed as a World Heritage site was unconstitutional.
Anti-government activists whipped up nationalist sentiment over the issue and in July the foreign minister resigned, while the two countries sent troops to the disputed border.
The PAD accuses Samak of being a proxy of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, now living in exile in London after skipping bail on graft charges last month.
The PAD also paints itself as a guardian of King Bhumibol Adulyadej against a supposed Thaksin bid to turn Thailand into a republic, a charge denied by both Thaksin and the government.
The stock market has fallen 24 percent since the street protests began in May and the recent upsurge in violence has distracted the government at a time when investors feel it should be concentrating on slowing economic growth and high inflation.
Parliament is due to start a two-day debate on Wednesday on the national budget for the year from October. Some analysts have speculated the government could call a snap election after the budget is passed, since ministers will then have the funds for projects to support their campaign.
Thousands of opposition protesters continued their sit-in at Prime Minister Samak's Sundaravej's official compound, vowing to continue their campaign until he resigns.
But Bangkok was calm on Wednesday after clashes early on Tuesday between pro- and anti-government supporters left one man dead and 45 injured, leading Samak to turn to the army to control the unrest.
The army has said it will not use force to evict protesters.
Traffic was light in the city of 10 million people because of the threat of public transport being disrupted by strikes. Also, schools remained closed for a second day following the imposition of the emergency.
In what the Bangkok Post newspaper headlined a "first hint of compromise", Sondhi Limthongkul, one of the leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), said the months-long crisis that has paralysed the government could not be resolved unless Samak left office.
"They must accept the four-point demand, and only if the prime minister is either Somchai Wongsawat or Surapong Suebwonglee," he told the newspaper, referring to Samak's education minister and finance minister respectively.
It was not immediately clear why the two men were acceptable to the opposition.
Sondhi said the government must promise not to amend the constitution; must suspend all large infrastructure projects; commit to political reform, and; accept a court decision on a temple located on land in Cambodia claimed by some in Thailand.
The Constitutional Court has ruled the government's backing of Cambodia's request to have the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple listed as a World Heritage site was unconstitutional.
Anti-government activists whipped up nationalist sentiment over the issue and in July the foreign minister resigned, while the two countries sent troops to the disputed border.
The PAD accuses Samak of being a proxy of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, now living in exile in London after skipping bail on graft charges last month.
The PAD also paints itself as a guardian of King Bhumibol Adulyadej against a supposed Thaksin bid to turn Thailand into a republic, a charge denied by both Thaksin and the government.
The stock market has fallen 24 percent since the street protests began in May and the recent upsurge in violence has distracted the government at a time when investors feel it should be concentrating on slowing economic growth and high inflation.
Parliament is due to start a two-day debate on Wednesday on the national budget for the year from October. Some analysts have speculated the government could call a snap election after the budget is passed, since ministers will then have the funds for projects to support their campaign.
4 comments:
That is the result of unfair Election in Asia!
Why we are the yellow skin often repeat stupid mistake by abusing power and cheating election?
When people stop believing election as a fair process, people would use violent like this?
Thaksin and Samak often buy vote!
This would show the weak point of democratic. When apply in the country where the gap between poor and rich is too wide, then some politicians would take advantage to gain support from the poor. As basic of democracy, everyone have equal rights in a country to decide who is the leader. Therefore, the PAD is wrong to claim that current prime minister is not eligible as he win by the support of the poor. The claim will make devision between people. The only way to have good democratic society is to minimize the gap and decrease poverty. That is the work of every one, not solely put it on the government shoulder. The rich and middle class must not be too selfish and involve directly in promoting living standard of the poor.
Business threaten Thai and they want to do business with Khmer and YOUN now.
Welcome to Srok Khmer!
Hey Cambodian people look at that ,Thai can do it why not us ?
Cambodia will gone any way ,give Cambodia the best of trying.
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