In Thailand, anti-government protests escalate Thai opposition protesters besiege several more ministries in Bangkok in a bid to topple the government, as Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra faces a no-confidence motion in parliament and warns against mob rule. Powered by NewsLook Newslook Thomas Maresca, Special for USA TODAY 4:19 p.m. EST November 27, 2013 Protesters cut electricity and force evacuation as they seek a new government. (Photo: Rungroj Yongrit, epa) STORY HIGHLIGHTS 3,000 protesters marched to a government complex, where they planned to stay overnight On Wednesday, the demonstrations finally spread outside Bangkok to other provinces Authorities have power to take action against security threats, but a violent response could hurt governments legitimacy SHARE 111 CONNECT 56 TWEET 1 COMMENT EMAIL MORE Mass protests aimed at ousting the Thai government escalated on a sweltering Wednesday in Bangkok. Protesters marched several miles to a government complex in the north of Bangkok, where they cut electricity and forced the evacuation of the Department of Special Investigations (DSI), Thailands counterpart to the FBI. The protest leader, former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban, announced that he and 3,000 followers would stay overnight at the office complex, which houses the DSI as well as other government departments, including the immigration office. For the first time Wednesday, the anti-government protests also spread outside of Bangkok to several other provinces, mostly in Democrat Party strongholds of the south. Protesters besieged government offices in 24 provinces, according to the Ministry of the Interior, including Saraburi, Phatthalung, Surat Thani and Pattani. The opposition group, now calling itself the Civil Movement for Democracy (CMD), is led by former Democrat Party politicians seeking to oust the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Pheu Thai Party. The opposition says the government is deeply corrupt and still under the control of Yinglucks brother Thaksin Shinawatra, the deposed former prime minister. Civil Movement for Democracy protesters have occupied the Finance Ministry since Monday, where they cut power and sang, danced and blew whistles. CMD spokesman Akanat Promphan described the protest as a peaceful sit-in. We insist that whatever we do will be peaceful, Akanat said. We wont go down the path of using force to pressure the government in any way. They have also temporarily occupied several other ministries, including foreign affairs, agriculture, tourism and transportation. Protesters massed at the Ministry of Energy Wednesday and forced an evacuation of employees, many of whom blew whistles and gave thumbs-ups on their way out. As a result of the ministry occupations, on Tuesday, a Thai court approved an arrest warrant issued by police against opposition leader Suthep. Prime Minister Yingluck imposed the Internal Security Act in Bangkok and surrounding provinces, which allows authorities to close roads, make arrests and take action against any security threats. But she told reporters Tuesday that the government would not use force in response to the protesters. A violent reaction by government forces would play into the protesters hands, according to Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University. He said such a response would be disastrous for the government, severely damaging its legitimacy and inspiring greater anti-Thaksin sentiment. If the government cracks down, there will be complete pandemonium in Bangkok, he said. But one thing for certain is that Yingluck will not last. Yingluck has been facing pressure not only on the streets but within parliament, where a no-confidence vote from the Democrat opposition is scheduled for Thursday. However, she is expected to survive, as her Pheu Thai Party holds the majority. A greater threat to the Yingluck government may come from the National Anti-Corruption Commission, an independent agency that is currently investigating corruption charges against the government on issues ranging from a controversial rice-pledging scheme to an attempted constitutional amendment that was struck down in court last week. If the commission rules against the government, it would have the authority to order the cabinet to stop working, Thitinan said. That would create a vacuum, which the anti-Thaksin and anti-government forces would try to fill, he said. Thailands Tourism Authority said Wednesday that 23 countries have issued travel notices for Thailand, including the United States. In a security statement updated Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy in Thailand advised American citizens to avoid areas of demonstrations, exercise caution in the vicinity of any large gatherings and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. Some worry that fighting could emerge between the anti-government protesters and Thaksins supporters. The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship — known as the red shirts — a political group allied with Thaksin and the Pheu Thai Party, began gathering Sunday at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok. The crowd, which organizers estimate at 50,000 to 60,000, has so far remained in the stadium. On Wednesday night, they announced plans for a mass rally at the stadium this Saturday. The protests reveal a lingering political divide in the country, primarily around Thaksin, who has lived in Dubai in self-imposed exile since he was convicted of criminal corruption charges in 2008. His opponents are largely drawn from Bangkok and the south and represent the traditional bureaucratic elite of Thailand. Thaksins support is mainly drawn from the rural, northern parts of the country. Playing a minimal political role in the past, his base has grown to represent the electoral majority. The latest wave of political turmoil started with the blanket amnesty bill that was pushed through the lower house of parliament in October, which many saw as a ploy to allow Thaksin to return to Thailand. Bowing to public pressure, the Thai senate voted the measure down earlier this month. The protests were the largest since 2010, when 90 people were killed when the red shirts took over parts of Bangkok for weeks before the government, led then by the current opposition, sent the military to crack down.
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 15:36:47 +0000
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