Thai crisis worsens as Ingluck\\\'s supporters counter opposition

The crisis in Thailand triggered by the dismissal of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and nine other ministers by a court seems to be deepening further as the supporters of the axed prime minister have come out with programmes to counter  the opposition seeking to install a new government. The "Red Shirts" - who are the supporters of Yingluck and her elder brother Thaksin Shinawatra, who is living abroad but is believed to be the main force behind the government, warned that the nation is lurching towards "civil war" as the opposition is trying to dictate terms. They endorsed the interim prime minister who took over following the ouster of Yingluck and other ministers after the verdict of the constitutional court.
The court on May 07 ordered Prime Minister Yingluck removed from the office for "abuse" of power. The development came as a big setback for the prime minister who was catapulted to the zenith of success within a short time on the coattail of her brother former prime minister Thaksin. The anti-government agitators, who have been clamouring for the ouster of Yingluck and her government over the last six months, have greeted the court order and are now asking for a new government.
The constitutional court ruled that the prime minister abused her power when she transferred a civil servant to another post more than three years ago. The court ordered her to step down immediately along with her cabinet colleagues who were in the office at the time of the transfer of the civil servant. Leaders of Yinluck's party called the development a "new form of coup" and announced that the deputy prime minister Niwattumrong Boonsingpaisan would be the next prime minister. But the opposition is refusing to accept anyone of the ruling Puea Thai party and want a new "People's Council" made up by the professionals.
Earlier, after the February 02 polls, political unrest in the country seemed to have receded although concerns continued to rise over the duration of the government. The polling to the rest of the parliamentary constituencies, which were not covered by the February 02 voting, took place again amidst boycott by the main opposition party while the protesters calling for government's exit also kept up their agitation - albeit in a subdued manner. As the number of the anti-government protesters dwindled, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra appeared to have weathered the storm. But, it is the legitimacy of her government that haunted her authority with fresh polls becoming an inevitable and lately the government announced a fresh election on July 20.
 The voting on February 02 had gone off rather peacefully barring in some areas and this came as a shot in the arm of the government of Prime Minister Yingluck. Nevertheless, the balloting remained a big question since the main opposition Democratic Party and the protesters demanding the resignation of the government boycotted the polls.
Protesters clamoured for the postponement of the voting on both the occasions, saying they want drastic reforms in the system of government, and asked for the formation of a "People's Council" that would govern the country. The demonstrators feel that Thailand needs to get rid of "unjust and corrupt" politicians. Their leader Suthep Thaugsuban says that the "anti-people" government would meet its natural death.
Now, the dismissal of the prime minister and nine ministers has thrown the country into a fresh round of trouble. Yingluck is also facing accusations in the national anti-corruption agency for her alleged failure to remain clean in the country's rice policies.
Analysts say that if stability fails to return, the army may intervene at some stage. The army staged coup earlier against the elected government of Thaksin Shinawatra.
  The protesters are pursuing a quixotic goal of ridding the country of the influence of Thaksin Shinawatra. They say they are frustrated with his dominance and also disillusioned with the current democratic practice. "People's Council" has been proposed as an alternative to the present democratic system. The government, not surprisingly, has poured cold water on the proposal. The main opposition Democratic Party has also distanced itself from the demand of "People's Council;" it wants polls under a neutral authority.
 The government is popular with farmers in most of the rural areas while the opposition and protesters are strong in capital Bangkok and several other places.
Yingluck's "Puea Thai party" still runs the government and hopes to win the July 20 elections and the anti-government protesters are unwilling to allow this government to remain in power as a caretaker administration until that time. They want to give a "final push" for the ouster of the government while the "Red Shirts" supporters of the government are equally hell-bent on containing the opposition threats. The streets of Bangkok are once again in the focus because of demonstrations and processions by the rival political forces.
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