Pro-Thaksin protesters ring Thai parliament
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
BANGKOK, Dec 29 (AP): Thousands of supporters of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ringed Thailand's Parliament Monday, vowing to remain until the new government dissolves the legislature and calls general elections.
The demonstrators dared lawmakers to pass through their ranks to deliver a mandated speech outlining the government's key policies.
"If they (lawmakers) want to go in, they have to walk through us, including the prime minister," one of the protest leaders, Chatuporn Prompan, told reporters outside the Parliament compound where demonstrators spent the night.
The demonstration sparked fears of renewed political turbulence, which paralyzed the previous government for months and climaxed with an eight-day seizure of Bangkok's airports. But the earlier protesters had been part of an anti-Thaksin alliance.
The latest round of protests could further batter the nearly moribund tourism industry, the country's no. 1 foreign currency earner, along with other economic sectors.
The current protest group - which calls itself the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship - said it would stay at Parliament until the government calls a snap election. The group had previously planned to stay for three days.
"We will celebrate New Year at Parliament," Chatuporn said.
The alliance has at least temporarily disrupted the government's plan to announce its policies, which by law it must do by January 7. But legal experts say the government could argue for an extension because of the political turbulence.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said if the announcement could not be delivered Monday, attempts would be made to enter Parliament in the coming days - but through negotiations and not the use of force.
The demonstrators dared lawmakers to pass through their ranks to deliver a mandated speech outlining the government's key policies.
"If they (lawmakers) want to go in, they have to walk through us, including the prime minister," one of the protest leaders, Chatuporn Prompan, told reporters outside the Parliament compound where demonstrators spent the night.
The demonstration sparked fears of renewed political turbulence, which paralyzed the previous government for months and climaxed with an eight-day seizure of Bangkok's airports. But the earlier protesters had been part of an anti-Thaksin alliance.
The latest round of protests could further batter the nearly moribund tourism industry, the country's no. 1 foreign currency earner, along with other economic sectors.
The current protest group - which calls itself the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship - said it would stay at Parliament until the government calls a snap election. The group had previously planned to stay for three days.
"We will celebrate New Year at Parliament," Chatuporn said.
The alliance has at least temporarily disrupted the government's plan to announce its policies, which by law it must do by January 7. But legal experts say the government could argue for an extension because of the political turbulence.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said if the announcement could not be delivered Monday, attempts would be made to enter Parliament in the coming days - but through negotiations and not the use of force.