Holding court Residents evacuated from the Bon Kai area find temporary lodging on the basketball court at the Wichutit school in Din Daeng. City Hall has also set up temporary shelters at Wichakorn and Samsen Nok for those looking to escape dangerous areas. PATTANAPONG HIRUNARDANALYSIS: The UDD, under ever-increasing pressure, has turned to international bodies for support
18/05/2010
Saritdet Marukatat
Bangkok Post
The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship faces an uphill battle in its call for international intervention to defuse the political tension.
As the government pressures protesters to end their rally, the UDD is now banking on outside pressure, mainly from the United Nations, to force Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva back to the negotiating table.
Since the red shirt protesters began their Bangkok rally on March 12, they have tried to internationalise the political conflict by seeking assistance from the UN, the European Union, the US and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
They intensified their campaign after the bloody crackdown on them on April 10 and the most recent military push that began on Friday.
Concerns expressed by Washington and UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon have boosted their hopes that the international community is behind the red shirt cause.
"How can life be revered when the government uses its live bullets against innocent non-violent protesters and civilians, many of them women and children," Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday in a statement.
"I call for the United Nations to immediately engage to act as facilitator for this negotiation.
"That organisation should not allow itself to be silenced by a prime minister who failed to understand that the right to life is a core universal value that unites us all as one."
The government was not surprised in the expressions of concern from other countries in the wake of the violence in the capital.
Given the violence in the city, such statements were not unusual, said Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Thani Thongphakdi.
The government has lobbied other countries and international organisations, including Asean and the UN, telling them the situation is under control, that Thailand is not a failed state, and that the government is fighting against an armed element mixing among the protesters.
These efforts have included talks with other Asean members and a recent meeting between permanent secretary for foreign affairs Theerakun Niyom with top UN officials in Bangkok, and another between Norachit Singhaseni, the Thai permanent representative to the UN in New York, with the UN secretary-general. It was impossible for international intervention because that would be interference in the domestic affairs of Thailand, said Mr Thani, adding that the UDD's move was just a PR exercise.
Mr Abhisit's position as head of the coalition government and his legitimacy to rule would also impede foreign intervention, a European diplomat said.
"He's got the majority of the votes," he said, although the way he came to power was not "beautiful".
Pressure from Asean is likely to have the most impact on bringing the UDD and protesters back to the negotiating table.
Cambodia lobbied other Asean countries at the group's summit in Hanoi early last month to make the Thai political crisis a regional concern, but the idea was shot down.
Although the regional bloc is governed on a principle of non-interference, Asean has not completely turned a blind eye to the problems of its members.
Thailand, as Asean chair, last year criticised the Burmese junta over a court ruling that sentenced opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to home confinement for violating an internal security law.
An Asean diplomat admitted the Thai political situation caused anxiety among other members.
The chances that the issue would become a regional one were slim as long as it did not spread to other countries or undermine the grouping, but it was not impossible, he said.
"Some members will use any opportunity to settle scores with Thailand. So there will be some suggestions for Asean to intervene in one way or the other," the diplomat said.
18/05/2010
Saritdet Marukatat
Bangkok Post
The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship faces an uphill battle in its call for international intervention to defuse the political tension.
As the government pressures protesters to end their rally, the UDD is now banking on outside pressure, mainly from the United Nations, to force Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva back to the negotiating table.
Since the red shirt protesters began their Bangkok rally on March 12, they have tried to internationalise the political conflict by seeking assistance from the UN, the European Union, the US and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
They intensified their campaign after the bloody crackdown on them on April 10 and the most recent military push that began on Friday.
Concerns expressed by Washington and UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon have boosted their hopes that the international community is behind the red shirt cause.
"How can life be revered when the government uses its live bullets against innocent non-violent protesters and civilians, many of them women and children," Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday in a statement.
"I call for the United Nations to immediately engage to act as facilitator for this negotiation.
"That organisation should not allow itself to be silenced by a prime minister who failed to understand that the right to life is a core universal value that unites us all as one."
The government was not surprised in the expressions of concern from other countries in the wake of the violence in the capital.
Given the violence in the city, such statements were not unusual, said Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Thani Thongphakdi.
The government has lobbied other countries and international organisations, including Asean and the UN, telling them the situation is under control, that Thailand is not a failed state, and that the government is fighting against an armed element mixing among the protesters.
These efforts have included talks with other Asean members and a recent meeting between permanent secretary for foreign affairs Theerakun Niyom with top UN officials in Bangkok, and another between Norachit Singhaseni, the Thai permanent representative to the UN in New York, with the UN secretary-general. It was impossible for international intervention because that would be interference in the domestic affairs of Thailand, said Mr Thani, adding that the UDD's move was just a PR exercise.
Mr Abhisit's position as head of the coalition government and his legitimacy to rule would also impede foreign intervention, a European diplomat said.
"He's got the majority of the votes," he said, although the way he came to power was not "beautiful".
Pressure from Asean is likely to have the most impact on bringing the UDD and protesters back to the negotiating table.
Cambodia lobbied other Asean countries at the group's summit in Hanoi early last month to make the Thai political crisis a regional concern, but the idea was shot down.
Although the regional bloc is governed on a principle of non-interference, Asean has not completely turned a blind eye to the problems of its members.
Thailand, as Asean chair, last year criticised the Burmese junta over a court ruling that sentenced opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to home confinement for violating an internal security law.
An Asean diplomat admitted the Thai political situation caused anxiety among other members.
The chances that the issue would become a regional one were slim as long as it did not spread to other countries or undermine the grouping, but it was not impossible, he said.
"Some members will use any opportunity to settle scores with Thailand. So there will be some suggestions for Asean to intervene in one way or the other," the diplomat said.
2 comments:
As always, a comment from EU member is biased towards party in power. Clever guy who realizes that their influence is fading compared to those of China and US.
Keep bombing and shooting each others as long as you want, Thai. You Thai just want to find out how the war is?
Split into two govt and two army so you can feel the suffer like Khmer have been through!
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