Supporters of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra also seek the ouster of a top advisor to the king.
April 9, 2009
By Charles McDermid and Jakkapun Kaewsangthong
Los Angeles Time (California, USA)
Reporting from Bangkok, Thailand -- A sea of red-clad anti-government protesters flooded into central Bangkok on Wednesday to demand the resignations of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and a key advisor to King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
City officials estimated that 100,000 supporters of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra filled the capital's government district. The protesters from the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship are demanding the resignation of Vejjajiva and his 4-month-old administration because they say he gained power undemocratically.
In the afternoon, hundreds of demonstrators broke through police barricades and surrounded the home of Privy Council President Gen. Prem Tinsulanonda, who they say was behind the 2006 military coup that ousted Thaksin. Prem, a close advisor to the highly respected king, has denied any involvement in the coup.
Wednesday's rally came after a two-week sit-in outside Abhisit's office by thousands of protesters.
On Tuesday, the so-called red shirts attacked Abhisit's motorcade in the resort town of Pattaya, pelting his vehicle with bottles, smashing the rear window and punching his driver and guards. The brazen attack raised security concerns about a summit of the Assn. of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, scheduled to commence in Pattaya on Friday.
Government officials said Wednesday that the summit would proceed as planned. Abhisit has refused to step down or employ violence to quell the protests.
"If it becomes a riot, the government will have to do something," Abhisit told reporters in Bangkok. "I can assure you there will be no violence starting from the government's side."
Last year, Thaksin fled Thailand before a court convicted him of abuse of power and he was sentenced to a two-year prison term. Using a video linkup Wednesday, he called on more supporters to join the protesters in pursuit of "a true democracy."
Thaksin's supporters point to the former telecommunications magnate's alleged economic prowess as the way out of the global financial crisis.
"He is smart guy. When he was in his power, poor people could make a lot of money. Today when they look at their wallet, it is empty. We want him and his policies back," 45-year-old restaurant owner Nattapon Karaked said.
According to government officials, 10,000 police officers and military troops have been deployed in central Bangkok. Pattaya is also on high alert.
Bus routes were diverted from Bangkok protest areas and visitors have been warned to avoid those sites.
Chanisa Rangtes, a 27-year-old receptionist, said the gathering of protesters in central Bangkok caused worse problems than the usual traffic jams and noise pollution.
"This isn't going to do any good for our society. People will get hurt and it will ruin our reputation, which is already getting bad. In the end we don't get anything," she said. "I'm not sure if it's even really about democracy."
McDermid and Kaewsangthong are special correspondents.
April 9, 2009
By Charles McDermid and Jakkapun Kaewsangthong
Los Angeles Time (California, USA)
Reporting from Bangkok, Thailand -- A sea of red-clad anti-government protesters flooded into central Bangkok on Wednesday to demand the resignations of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and a key advisor to King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
City officials estimated that 100,000 supporters of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra filled the capital's government district. The protesters from the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship are demanding the resignation of Vejjajiva and his 4-month-old administration because they say he gained power undemocratically.
In the afternoon, hundreds of demonstrators broke through police barricades and surrounded the home of Privy Council President Gen. Prem Tinsulanonda, who they say was behind the 2006 military coup that ousted Thaksin. Prem, a close advisor to the highly respected king, has denied any involvement in the coup.
Wednesday's rally came after a two-week sit-in outside Abhisit's office by thousands of protesters.
On Tuesday, the so-called red shirts attacked Abhisit's motorcade in the resort town of Pattaya, pelting his vehicle with bottles, smashing the rear window and punching his driver and guards. The brazen attack raised security concerns about a summit of the Assn. of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, scheduled to commence in Pattaya on Friday.
Government officials said Wednesday that the summit would proceed as planned. Abhisit has refused to step down or employ violence to quell the protests.
"If it becomes a riot, the government will have to do something," Abhisit told reporters in Bangkok. "I can assure you there will be no violence starting from the government's side."
Last year, Thaksin fled Thailand before a court convicted him of abuse of power and he was sentenced to a two-year prison term. Using a video linkup Wednesday, he called on more supporters to join the protesters in pursuit of "a true democracy."
Thaksin's supporters point to the former telecommunications magnate's alleged economic prowess as the way out of the global financial crisis.
"He is smart guy. When he was in his power, poor people could make a lot of money. Today when they look at their wallet, it is empty. We want him and his policies back," 45-year-old restaurant owner Nattapon Karaked said.
According to government officials, 10,000 police officers and military troops have been deployed in central Bangkok. Pattaya is also on high alert.
Bus routes were diverted from Bangkok protest areas and visitors have been warned to avoid those sites.
Chanisa Rangtes, a 27-year-old receptionist, said the gathering of protesters in central Bangkok caused worse problems than the usual traffic jams and noise pollution.
"This isn't going to do any good for our society. People will get hurt and it will ruin our reputation, which is already getting bad. In the end we don't get anything," she said. "I'm not sure if it's even really about democracy."
McDermid and Kaewsangthong are special correspondents.
8 comments:
Tell this to Abhisit if he did what he had done to Thaksin was for democracy. A military coup ousted him from power and forced him to loitering oversea. Is that fair?
Many people love Thaksin and he is using his tool to stir up Abhisit’s confidentiality not to come into power an easy way.
What comes around goes around in Thailand
Thailand has became something like Thailier was reported on 05 Apr 09
By Thomas Bell in Bangkok
The Telegraph (UK)
It’s fund reading that article!
Thai's reputation and credibility is now almost trash.
Mr.Thaksin is our leader he help poors people more then any other thai Gv'T in cluding The King he is real Thai blood sucker. Mr Thaksin is deserve to be our future leader for ever. Abhishit is a real gardian King dog, he has gained Power by chaeting manipulating the King power, he actually is behimd Abhishit Gov't. Thaksin!! Thaksin!! Thaksin!!!
Down!! Down!! Abhishit and the King
K.L.F
The Thai protesters all a bunch of near-sighted band-wagon idiots. They think protesting is so trendy and probably think it's sooooooo much fun. Their protesting is causing tourism in Thailand to plummet, foreign investment to become uneasy and unsure about stability and many more things. Their actions are causing problems in Thailand and when these problems start to cause each and every one of them social and economic hardships, they'll do it again and blame the government and demand for a new prime minister.
The Thais are a bunch of idiot. They had it going good and ripe and are only fucking up their own country. And to think that Cambodians are inconsiderate, the Thais are becoming worse.
9:21 AM
What did you say? I don't think anyone understands what you wrote.
9:53, basically, he said that he wants to replace one dictator by another dictator and that he wouldn't mind being under one that suits his fantasy for the rest of his miserable life. I quote.. "Mr Thaksin is deserve to be our future leader for ever."
10:45 AM
What is wrong with dictator? The West made a bad connotation with the word to suit their "democracy" ideology. I'm not saying there ain't bad dictators. There are so far many bad dictators because they think only of themselves.
One man ruling until he dies. There is nothing wrong with that as long as the man brings prosperity and peace. Would you love the name game or the actual results? The all lovely "democracy" has been abused by many in the West to suit their not so democratic actions.
"We'll bring democracy to your country." Look at Iraq. American's democracy is really growing well there. People need to learn to see past the names of the system and know that what is good for you might not be so for others.
I couldn't care less if one man rules for his entire life if he is doing his best to serve the people. Ever heard of the term "don't fix what is not broken?"
Unfortunately, no man labeled as dictator has proven that you don't need democracy to live peacefully. That's the nature of mankind. People get corrupted when they hold power for too long.
Like I said, if a dictator brings prosperity and peace to his people, I have no problem living under that rather than a society that on the surface promotes the concept of democracy but in reality, their democracy is full of hypocrisy.
Democracy, democracy ?? where did I hear that word? Certainly not in Thailand, not in Cambodia either.
What keeps Thailand smiling and properity? it's from the Powerful absolute Monarchy and its military dictator.
If Thaksin takes back his power as he is a legitimate Leader elected by the majority of Thai people, may be he could help poor people to have chances or to have a good future.
But the question is:
-Will the US allow that to happen if the US already roaming all over in Thailand more than 150 years knowing that Thaksin embraces China? The oust of Thaksin was not by somebody others than the powerful people like US who worked through King Bhumibol. King Bhumibol admitted he supported the Coup D'Etat.
Everythings are coming down to one thing: Economic power between China and US.
Now the US currency declines while Yuan rises, Thai policy has to change. That is why we see RED SHIRTS come out.
Without the authority from the King and his military dictator, no protestors can be allowed on the street.
It's a strategy to survive.
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