Protest in Bangkok calls for Thai PM to step down

[CrazyExpat]

Having lived in Bangkok recently, I know that these protests do not interfere with tourism or change the political structure of things. I wonder how long they will continue? What will it take to bring the people together if that is even possible at all?

BANGKOK — Thousands of supporters of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, all in red shirts, rallied Sunday in Bangkok to demand the government step down and call fresh elections.

Supporters of Thaksin have been staging sporadic protests that have threatened to rekindle the political turmoil that has gripped the country since before the former leader was ousted in a 2006 military coup.

Sunday's protesters called for Parliament to reinstate the 1997 constitution that was abolished after the coup in addition to their demands that the government be dissolved.

"If the government is sincere, why not return to the old constitution, which was written by the people and for the people, and return the power to the public?" asked one of the protest leaders, Nattawut Sai-kua, adding that the protesters are collecting signatures to call for the removal of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

"Let's see who the majority vote for. I am sure it will not be this government," he said.

At least 2,000 people had flocked to a square in the historic heart of the capital by late afternoon with more expected to arrive later in the evening. About 1,000 policemen were deployed in the area, said Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Worasak Nopsittiporn.

The protesters said they would disperse peacefully by midnight.

The popularly dubbed "people's constitution" — which was written with extensive public consultation and debate — was abolished by the coup makers in 2006 and replaced with a military-backed charter approved in a national referendum in 2007.

Critics say the 2007 constitution weakened political parties and shifted several responsibilities to the judiciary from the executive branch.

But anti-Thaksin activists say his supporters are only calling for the old charter — and the strong executive it creates — to rehabilitate the reputation of Thaksin who some accuse of installing a parliamentary dictatorship during his time in power.

Although Abhisit has said his government is willing to support amendments to the constitution, parliamentarians have not been able to reach agreement on the issue.

Few expect the protests to bring about immediate political changes, but the sporadic campaign has threatened to re-ignite tension between the pro- and anti-Thaksin factions.

Rival political groups have staged several rounds of sometimes violent protests. The turmoil began more than three years ago with rallies by those who oppose Thaksin — the "yellow shirts" — that paved the way for his ouster. But when his allies were voted back into power, the yellow shirts protested again — eventually occupying the seat of government and shutting down the capital's two airports.

When court rulings did in two governments made up of Thaksin allies, Abhisit came to power. But now the "red shirts" periodically hold demonstrations.

Thaksin was accused of corruption and abuse of power during his time in office, but he remains popular among the urban and rural poor. Last year, the billionaire politician was convicted in absentia of violating a conflict-of-interest law and sentenced to two years in prison.

Much of his fortune remains frozen in Thai banks, his Thai passport has been revoked, and he has been barred from several countries following diplomatic pressure from Thailand.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g3j-vAVG1fg3kEfnogTiH8_4EXvwD9B8R5MO0

[Wino]

I have no idea what will bring these two groups together. There is such a big divide between rich and poor in Thailand. That creates a big problem and political riff. I may be a bit too simplistic here but the poor red shirts and the more well-to-do yellow shirts are not going to see eye to eye anytime soon. I just hope they don't shut down the airport, again.

[lvdkeyes]

It seems to be a never ending problem. It is not only the rich vs the poor, but the educated vs the uneducated as well.

[Wino]

It seems to be a never ending problem. It is not only the rich vs the poor, but the educated vs the uneducated as well.

Rich vs. poor, educate vs. uneducated, in essence it comes down to the have's and the have not’s or a money situation.

[lvdkeyes]

same same

[Wino]

same same

Exactly, rich vs. poor, educated vs. uneducated, same same.

[Thaifan]

Whilst agreeing with most of the Posts that this seems a problem that is going to take a magician to solve, I think they are generalising and being too simplistic. Yes there are major divides between rich and poor and it will always be difficult to get the have/have not's to agree, but as for the educated vs uneducated I think it depends where you were educated. If you have only been educated here in Thailand you are not taught to question things and sometimes even not to think for yourself and consequently consider yourself part of the 'elite' who support the yellow shirts. However those educated overseas who are taught to think for themselves and to not accept things without evidence are less inclined to fall into this category. I know many educated people who are Thaksin supporters and recognise that he did a lot of good things for Thailand. I did see Abhisit as one of these well-educated individuals who could perhaps take the middle path and bring both sides together but he recognises that his grip on power depends on yellow-shirt support so he hasn't taken the middle path and indeed stupidly destroyed my confidence in him by appointing as Foreign Minister one of the idiots responsible for closing down the Airports.

Unfortunately we cannot turn back the clock but during the previous two Governments which were democratically elected after the Coup(unlike the present Government); when they were going through turmoil because of Court challenges if they had taken the middle road and asked Abhisit (not his party) to become Prime Minister, we may have found a way forward. It would not have been easy to lead a Government made up of people from a different party but if done carefully could have been possible and it would have avoided the need for the red shirts to form. That would have been the true 'middle path' that Thailand so desparately needs. Now we have a deeply divided Country, with an un-elected Government and nobody has the charisma(which Thaksin did have) to lead the Country forward.

[Wino]

I do not know much about Thailand's recent history, but it seems like there has been plenty of political problems in the last 40 or 50 years. Has the present King ever stepped in and made the parties come together and work for a common goal?