Riot police shoot tear gas towards anti-government demonstrators protesting outside police headquarters in Bangkok October 7, 2008. Thai riot police clashed with protesters in the capital on Tuesday, injuring 69 people, as campaigners intensified their four-month bid to unseat the government. REUTERS/Kerek WongsaOCTOBER 7, 2008
By JAMES HOOKWAY The Wall Street Journal
A simmering political crisis in Thailand heated up Tuesday, after police fired teargas on protesters who attempted to barricade the national Parliament building in Bangkok.
Around 70 protesters were injured during clashes with police early on Tuesday morning, according to state-run broadcaster PBS. Demonstrators attempted to stop new Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from outlining the coming year's policy plans, which he must do before do before taking up his executive duties.
Police responded by using teargas to open up an entrance so lawmakers could enter the building and participate in the policy debate.
The protests represent a fresh blow for Thailand's increasingly fragile economy. Thailand is a global production hub for several multinationals, including automobile giants Toyota Motor Co. and Ford Motor Co. But the clashes have intensified investor anxiety about Thailand, as neighbors such as Vietnam attract an expanding share of the region's foreign capital. The global credit crunch has greatly amplified concerns about slowing investment and consumer spending.
The benchmark Stock Exchange of Thailand Index has fallen 37% since the protesters seized Government House in late August. Tourist arrivals have also dropped after protesters briefly shut down several regional airports last month. On Tuesday, Thai stocks tumbled and the Thai baht weakened against the dollar.
During the extended period of political turmoil, two Thai prime ministers have been ousted. Thaksin Shinawatra was overthrown by a military coup in 2006 and is now seeking political asylum in Britain to avoid a raft of corruption charges. Samak Sundaravej, who was elected when democracy was restored last year, was forced out last month by Thailand's courts. He was convicted of unlawfully accepting payments to host a television cooking show.
Mr. Somchai, who became prime minister on Sept. 18, is the latest target of protestors. Like Mr. Samak, he's a political ally of former Prime Minister Thaksin. Mr. Somchai is also married to Mr. Thaksin's sister.
The police and protest clashes center on the divisive issue of how a conservative, Buddhist kingdom should be governed. To curry favor with the poor, Thailand's politicians have developed populist policies such as broader access to credit and inexpensive medical care. But many protestors, mostly comprised of wealthier Bangkok residents, want to see a more limited governing role for Parliament. They advocate that professional and social groups appoint a majority of parliamentary members to reduce alleged electoral fraud. How such a system would work isn't yet clear.
In late August, thousands of demonstrators seized the government's main administrative complex -- and they have remained there ever since. That forced Mr. Somchai's government to operate from a wing of Bangkok's old international airport. On Sunday, tensions escalated further when police arrested one of the primary protest leaders, retired general Chamlong Srimuang, on charges of inciting an insurrection. He urged protesters to carry on with their campaign.
"The protesters are doing their best to provoke a confrontation, and it's difficult for the police to use force against them," says Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science professor at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.
Arrest warrants have also been issued for eight other protest leaders, including publisher and media tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul, who first spearheaded the campaign against Mr. Thaksin prior to 2006's military coup. On Tuesday, Mr. Sondhi called for more protests outside the Parliament building to derail the government's policy program.
Write to James Hookway at james.hookway@awsj.com
Around 70 protesters were injured during clashes with police early on Tuesday morning, according to state-run broadcaster PBS. Demonstrators attempted to stop new Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from outlining the coming year's policy plans, which he must do before do before taking up his executive duties.
Police responded by using teargas to open up an entrance so lawmakers could enter the building and participate in the policy debate.
The protests represent a fresh blow for Thailand's increasingly fragile economy. Thailand is a global production hub for several multinationals, including automobile giants Toyota Motor Co. and Ford Motor Co. But the clashes have intensified investor anxiety about Thailand, as neighbors such as Vietnam attract an expanding share of the region's foreign capital. The global credit crunch has greatly amplified concerns about slowing investment and consumer spending.
The benchmark Stock Exchange of Thailand Index has fallen 37% since the protesters seized Government House in late August. Tourist arrivals have also dropped after protesters briefly shut down several regional airports last month. On Tuesday, Thai stocks tumbled and the Thai baht weakened against the dollar.
During the extended period of political turmoil, two Thai prime ministers have been ousted. Thaksin Shinawatra was overthrown by a military coup in 2006 and is now seeking political asylum in Britain to avoid a raft of corruption charges. Samak Sundaravej, who was elected when democracy was restored last year, was forced out last month by Thailand's courts. He was convicted of unlawfully accepting payments to host a television cooking show.
Mr. Somchai, who became prime minister on Sept. 18, is the latest target of protestors. Like Mr. Samak, he's a political ally of former Prime Minister Thaksin. Mr. Somchai is also married to Mr. Thaksin's sister.
The police and protest clashes center on the divisive issue of how a conservative, Buddhist kingdom should be governed. To curry favor with the poor, Thailand's politicians have developed populist policies such as broader access to credit and inexpensive medical care. But many protestors, mostly comprised of wealthier Bangkok residents, want to see a more limited governing role for Parliament. They advocate that professional and social groups appoint a majority of parliamentary members to reduce alleged electoral fraud. How such a system would work isn't yet clear.
In late August, thousands of demonstrators seized the government's main administrative complex -- and they have remained there ever since. That forced Mr. Somchai's government to operate from a wing of Bangkok's old international airport. On Sunday, tensions escalated further when police arrested one of the primary protest leaders, retired general Chamlong Srimuang, on charges of inciting an insurrection. He urged protesters to carry on with their campaign.
"The protesters are doing their best to provoke a confrontation, and it's difficult for the police to use force against them," says Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science professor at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.
Arrest warrants have also been issued for eight other protest leaders, including publisher and media tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul, who first spearheaded the campaign against Mr. Thaksin prior to 2006's military coup. On Tuesday, Mr. Sondhi called for more protests outside the Parliament building to derail the government's policy program.
Write to James Hookway at james.hookway@awsj.com
44 comments:
We want this picture to occur in Cambodia.
We also welcome Thai invasion against Cambodia, so can see the demise of Hun Sen's regime.
4:35 PM,
You are not Khmer...and If you are Khmer...you are a type of a man that would burn the whole forest for just to catch one turtle...You are not worth to be khmer...I would rather live under a Khmer ditactorship rather than a foreigner master...
Thailand: should invasion occurs, don't forget to aim for the Tuol Krasaing compound -- located south of Phnom Penh and southwest of Ta Kmao -- because this is the stratigic hub for the ruling party. We know that you have the GPS-guided missiles, which can theoretically capable of striking the compound precisely.
4:51 PM
Don't worry, fella! The Thai has girded and devised a plan that will accomplish just that.
Rest assured, the Tuol Krasaing compound will be inundatedly pummeled with precision-guided missiles, which theoretically capable of hitting the compound.
Enjoy your lives while you can!
Why do we let foreigner to invade our country?
Like 4:51 PM said, I'd rather live under Khmer.
This propose has happened long ago when the Thai threw Prak Doung into bamboo forest to let Khmer clear the forest for them when they done clearing not just letting them sacked Angkor wat they also took Prak Doung back.
This is how we didn't think deep enough. We should learn from that mistake long ago when the Thai tricked us so many times.
This time they really got our nerve, but we hold them with patient cause of HUN SEN said so.
But last thing comes into my mind, HUN SEN is good with war but why did he let the Thai do this to us?
They have encroached our land we have the right to shoot and kill them right on the spot.
Khmer PP,
The overwhelming major of Khmer people would rather live under foreign (Thai) occupation than Hun Sen regime.
And I say it again: I welcome Thai invasion. Thai people, if you're listening, welcome to Cambodia!
5:08 PM
Can we handle their Air Force; with their firepower might will obliterate Cambodia. That's why Hun Sen is very afraid. If war breaks out, I can assure you that the CPP party will break out, too.
5:08, what a load of bull! What the hell, why are you people look down on your own motherland. What would a
Thai invasion do good to Cambodia? Without Samdach, CAmbodia would not be developed as it is today. Look at all those 09 cars, those villas, luxury and pretty girls, this is the fruit of development, and soon cambodia will join the nuclear club and will surpass Thailand. Thai is worried with the power of Samdach that's why they dare not attack.
so please consider your moral before insulting our great Samdach leader!
so please consider your moral before insulting our great Samdach leader!
The Tuol Krasaing compound will be the first to hit, and it will be hit very hard.
Thailand: aim for the Tuol Krasaing.
Again, we welcome you to the land of lawlessness.
Yes, invasion is welcome. Doors open and beds ard made ... welcome home.
All of these motherfuckers welcoming Thai invasion are traitors to Khmer people. Don't ever fucking come to Cambodia again. You are no longer considered Khmer. If I have the power and know who you fuckers are, I would ban you from ever entering Cambodia again. I don't care how shitty my country is, I still love it, unlike you fucking ungrateful bastards that forgot where you come from. The people that forget their origin won't go anywhere, people. Trust me on that.
I often saw the same comment same idea from some of people in this blog, I' don't know where they are living exactly, but I realy want to offer them simple tickets to travel to the Planet Mars, no return.
I overhead that the Thai generals are planning to invade Cambodia, and Hun Sen is now galvanizing and mobilizing the Vietnamese troops to launch counter-invasion. If I heard correctly, the CPP generals are very disquieted.
This would be greatly awful event if the Thai invaded Cambodia.
So, what's PM Hun Sen's strategy?
Thai is going to have another coup.
The people power will topple the current again. I heard the rumors that they will stage a protest again cause they have their ranger's legs lost.
Khmer Borisoth,
I know that because we have kinda of the traitor people that is why we lost our land...Hun Sen already gave some to the VN..and NOW we have some ppl who wish to give Cambodia to Thai...Who the fuck those ppl?...I know HUn SEN is suck with Thai on that issue but I would RATHER KILLED BY KHMER not By FUCKING FOREIGNERs esp..The GAY THAI!!!!...
From former Khmer Rouge victim...
Thai invasion is the ONLY recourse to bring Khmer to justice.
Cambodian people and I have suffered enough under Hun Sen's rule. I recently had my parcel land stolen by the ruling party in broad daylight, and I am now homeless (with no place to turn to). Now, I welcome any foreign country (if happens to be Thai -- be it)to rescue us, if invasion is part of the game, God with us.
I would rather die under foreign occupation, and these Khmer people need not to die worthlessly under Hun Sen's rule.
If foreign invasion occurs in Cambodia, I will fight against Hun Sen's regime.
5:45 PM
You think you can affort the ticket?
I can tell you right now -- it's not going to be cheap, fella!
Why send this person to Yuon country!
O.K, I agreed to support the Thai invasion at least living under Thai we have our culture, tradition and custom the same.
Living under YOUN is way off and differces.
Khmer Moy Roub,
6:16 PM
Agreed!
Thank you!
I'd rather fuck Thai women -- not Yuon's pussy.
Yes, and I say: welcome Cambodia!
You(Thai) can't take over my Country ,We are Khmer:Will protect our motherland and will find away to solve the major problem with international law.
East invade by Youn, West by Thai and in this forum all I can see just another fight ... where is Khmer morality???? if we still fighting none stop and not willing to find the best solution to help our country then one day we will be on the island. All the best
Since the regim's Khmer rouge collapsed until now, most of Cambodian is still in poverty, people still struggle for earning money to support their famely. Most of them very hard to find the food to survive for day by day, so how can we transform our country to be as strong as Vietname and Thailand ?
Folks, luckily, we don't have to worry about anything bad happening in Cambodia because all of the idiots that say stupid shit on here have no saying in running Cambodia. All they can do is running your mouth on the internet. For that I'm glad. They're like the hillbillies and hicks of Khmer people. Some might even be the KKK version of Khmer people too. But, instead of lighting the cross, they would set one of their own on fire because they are that backward and stupid to differentiate what is a human and what is an inanimate object just like how they can't tell the difference between reality and the dulusion they are living in.
regardless what people say, the invasion is unavoidable and it's imminent.
Hun Sen's generals are now scrambling for bunkers.
No invasion in Cambodia, please.
we do not have anything to defend our country.
looks like cambodia is under danger of thai imminent invasion.
there are rumors in thailand that cambodia will be invaded by thai, but the skirmishes will have to start first in frontline
the thai generals are now drawing an invasion plan
Cambodian generals are nervous, if the rumors are true. I think Cambodia is ill-quipped to combat the Thai -- if war breaks.
If the rumors are true, again, this is not a laughing matter,unless the Cambodian government tries playdown the rumors.
Is the Thai really lauch invasion against Cambodia?
Hun Sen should call a military conference and draw out all possible scenarios in case the rumors were true.
Hey hold your horses, especially stupid idiot 4:35pm! I don't know who the fuck are you, and I don't give a damn either, but dreaming of Thailand invading Cambodia is not going to happen in this century. It is too late shrimp-mud punk. If you wanted to do you should have done it in the last century or so when Cambodian population was only about half a million. Now it is definitely too late, I assure you that.
Stop surfing the net for an hour and watch your TV, you will see what is now happening in your Bang-cock, then you might reliase how the fucking stupid you are. How can Thailand invading Cambodia while its cats and dogs are fighting in their kitchen. You must haven't heard that Thai Prime Minister claimed up the fence getting out the Parliament this morning. it reminds me Thai ambassador ran though the back gate of Thai embassy in Phnom Penh in 2003 riot. That's so funny!
What was happened this morning is just the begining. A lot of worse will be coming. This is your sin and karma from what you have been looking down your neighbours so badly for so long. You know what we love to watch and enjoy it. Let me teaching you English say: What goes around, comes around.
So that's all for now as fearing you idiot wouldn't have a clue what I am saying. Advising you not to waste time here, but to enjoy the fucking shows in Bang-cock Pat-pong.
I would say the other way around. Thai is under political turmoil again.
I think Khmer should launch an invasion to Thailand.
We should speak up and instigate the Khmer living in Thailand to rise up and fight the Thai and reclaim the lands back. It is time for us to do so now.
Thai is surrounded by enemies now.
The Muslim in the south of Thai ready to declare independent or declare an autonomy.
We should draw out some scenarios to attack Thailand while we have a chance now. Cause its house is having difficulty.
I don't think Thai can handle Khmer armies anyway. They already got paranoid with lossing their legs in Khmer's soils.
Khmer 4ever,
Stop dreaming or cursing about to let Thai invade your motherlands. There will be no chance to do so anyway.
The UN, ASEAN, EU and others will not stand and let this happen.
The thing should be happened is the Khmer will reclaim part of Thailand back.
Khmer Eternity,
Stop pathetic guy, Cambodia is in ASEAN country, so neither Thai nor Cambodia to invade each other We are ASEAN. OK GUY....
And plus if Thai is going to do so they will suffer from te 3-brothers (Indochinese Federation) with their thousand years friendship.
From the 3-Commies,
5:12pm, yeah that's right, the majority of your family and relatives welcome the Thia....with open legs mother fucker! Don't speak for all of us u piece of shit. Your brain is so fucked up that u can't tell the one end from the other. So crawl back into the hole!
Just ignore that siem bastard, he just try bring fight among us.
He just try to look good, because his country has noo many problems (South insurgents, political strife, Burma, Cambodia border).
Good luck ah siem.
Don't worry I will watch you die.
Thailand can take over Cambodia at any time -- if circumstances dictate.
The Thai troops can theoretically take over Cambodia less than one week with intense bombing, followed by ground invasion, and there's nothing the Khmern can stop us.
Cambodia is a piece of shit country -- after all.
Also, you prime minister is the dumbest leader on the face of this earth. You think he can lead or mislead you people out of this misery. Think again, Khmern!
The Khmern must respect our military might. It will obliterate your country.
Cambodia welcomes Thailand invasion to assist the country with developments.
Cambodia needs invasion.
Whether Cambodia like it or not, thailand will launch invasion anyway.
There's no way that Cambodian troops can handle the Thai air superiority.
Why just give the Pra Viharn back to Thailand, then forget about the invasion.
WOW! Thai just invaded another Khmer site (pun intended) lol. Keep dreaming, you idiots. I dare you Thai to drop a single bomb. You'll see what happens. Cambodia can't do anything with your air strike but you know what will happen? Your country will be put on embargo with the rest of the world. Economic sanctions from everywhere you can imagine. If you want to act tough, I say go ahead. In the end, you will be the one that gets fucked in the ass. And when foreigners see the true color of your fake smiling piece of shit, all the economic development will shift to the real and authentic cultures, the Khmer.
I really really encourage Thai to do any military advance on Cambodia. Politically, your country is done as soon as you dropped your first bomb. It's all about reputation. Once yours is destroyed, no foreigners will step on your land ever again. They will come to my country instead. and then, I and all my Khmer people will party and thank you Thai people for your generous acts lol.
A-Siam, go take care of your own mess first before u think about conquering other countries. Man, u guys can't even hold your shit together. It's pathetic! Have u ever heard a Prime Minister who can't even enter his own office? Gotta go to have his meeting at a closed down airport? LOL Idiot Samchai or whatever his name is will be kicked out of office in just a matter of time like the rest of your PM. Your country is a laughing-stock. So shut your fucken mouth up and crawl back like a dog is supposed to do when he's kicked in the ass by his owner. Go take care of the shit back home and then u can come back to talk about your manifestation. HAHHAHAHAHAH fucken idiot
If we decided to take military action against your clowns, there's not a thing you people can do to stop us -- knowing that we (Thai) are more superior than you -- and you're inferior to us (and other countries as well).
Don't dare us, because we'll sink your country. Of course, you need us for the development of the country, because your country is a piece of shit.
Oh! Tell your shithead prime minister that the fucker is a fucking idiotic prime minister, yet the dumbest shit on earth. And why do you people allow this fucker to lead your country. The fucker signed the leasing agreement for development, now this fucker changed his mind. Rest assured, this fucker prime minister of yours will never get away from his flip-flop decision.
Yes, tell your fucking prime minister to eat your people shit.
1:01 PM
You can judge a person's level of intelligence by how much they swear. This guy? He is just a tad short of being medically retarded lol. Talking about being flip-flop? Khmer leaders have been standing on the same position since day one. It's your Thai side that change your mind like a whore changes her panty on a very busy night. Might I add the ChangMai whore I referred to lol.
This guy is obviously an abroad Thai idiot. He doesn't even know that all your military pilots are busy protesting your own government with the PAD.
War is won by politically and militarilly. Your country doesn't even have a stable government. Who is controlling who? Your prime minister can't even control your military. Your military leaders are wanting more power in the country, which is why they let PAD go on without any army intervention. Just make sure you Thai don't kill each other off first. Get your shit together at home before you want to do anything to someone lol.
oooh...such big talk from a small guy. Yeah, get all your men together...oops i forgot there aren't enough cuz the majority have changed their sex.LOL so go recruit your drag queens.hahhhehheha
U mean tell your PM to eat his own shit? I bet he's doing it right now. Eat all the PAD's shits. Fucken bossed around by the all the people. Yeah tell your smartass PM to get his shitty country together and try to stay in office another few months.ahhahahhah Smart country u have when the majority of the people can't even speak English. Even the poor Cambodian who sell vegetables at the market speak English. That shows how smart your country is. So protective of their people that they don't promote growth. I went there and the only way to communicate with these ignorant Thia is by sign language.ahhahahah
Rest assured, Khmern -- again, you have our assurances that the crisis will ineluctably percolate through your country sooner than you might have thought. When the time comes, you'll be on your way to rivers or jungles for hidding, because you do not want to hang around where people are gathering. Yes, your time is running out. In addition, our diplomats have exhausted all conceivable options, haplessly, war is our resort (and our military recourse will be our bargaining chip). Suffice to say, your country and ours are on the precipice of war. Advice: gird for the inevitability!
If this happened in Cambodia, I hardly imagine if there would be any Khmers on the street protesting the government like Thais. We are too coward,love to sit back and blame one another too much, didn't we?
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