By South East Asia correspondent Karen Percy
ABC News (Australia)
Political tensions are on the rise again in Thailand, with tens of thousands of anti-government protesters expected to take to the streets of Bangkok to mark the third anniversary of the military coup which ousted their leader.
The government has invoked the Internal Security Act, allowing thousands of soldiers and police to be deployed around the city.
Today's protests by red-shirted supporters of convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is part of an ongoing campaign to force the government to call elections.
Mr Thaksin was prime minister for six years and was hugely popular amongst poor, rural Thais who benefited from his populist policies.
Last year he was convicted of corruption and has since been living in exile.
The same group of supporters was involved in shutting down the East Asia Summit of regional leaders in April, which led to street riots.
However the group's leaders promise there will be no violence this time.
Current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says now is not the time for a new vote, with the Thai economy struggling and the government trying to effect political reform.
Mr Abhisit came to office in December after a court decision disbanded the elected government tied to Mr Thaksin.
His election followed a week-long shutdown of Bangkok's airports by protesters linked to Mr Abhisit's Democrat party.
Meanwhile, a protest is also planned on the Thai-Cambodian border at the site of an international land dispute near a Hindu temple.
Yellow-shirted royalist protesters, who shutdown Bangkok's airports last year, say the Thai government has ceded territory to Cambodia near the Preah Vihear temple.
The government says that is not the case.
The government has invoked the Internal Security Act, allowing thousands of soldiers and police to be deployed around the city.
Today's protests by red-shirted supporters of convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is part of an ongoing campaign to force the government to call elections.
Mr Thaksin was prime minister for six years and was hugely popular amongst poor, rural Thais who benefited from his populist policies.
Last year he was convicted of corruption and has since been living in exile.
The same group of supporters was involved in shutting down the East Asia Summit of regional leaders in April, which led to street riots.
However the group's leaders promise there will be no violence this time.
Current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says now is not the time for a new vote, with the Thai economy struggling and the government trying to effect political reform.
Mr Abhisit came to office in December after a court decision disbanded the elected government tied to Mr Thaksin.
His election followed a week-long shutdown of Bangkok's airports by protesters linked to Mr Abhisit's Democrat party.
Meanwhile, a protest is also planned on the Thai-Cambodian border at the site of an international land dispute near a Hindu temple.
Yellow-shirted royalist protesters, who shutdown Bangkok's airports last year, say the Thai government has ceded territory to Cambodia near the Preah Vihear temple.
The government says that is not the case.
1 comment:
This seemed ridiculous all forces are not armed and if this occured very bad our forces will get injured without protected gears. Hun Sen would say uh oh I told you be very careful. 4,000 siam versus 1,000 forces + 500 villagers. This is unacceptable remembered US had pouring in $58M for road contruction nothing had been happened. At least they should bought some gears for our forces such as protected bortons, helmets and bullet proofs vest. Where is all the money? All for CPP members.
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