NationStates Jolt Archive

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090224/ap_on_re_as/as_thailand_protest

BANGKOK – Thousands of protesters surrounded the prime minister's office Tuesday demanding Thailand's Parliament be dissolved and new elections held.

The rally by demonstrators allied with exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra came three days before Thailand is to host the annual summit of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. About 7,000 people attended, police said.

One of the protest leaders, Jakrapob Penkair, said the demonstration was being staged this week to show Thailand's Southeast Asian neighbors that the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had no right to rule.

Abhisit became prime minister in December after a court ruling that ousted a government of Thaksin's allies — but only after the former leader's opponents spent much of last year demonstrating in the capital, occupying the prime minister's offices for three months and Bangkok's two airports for a week.

Abhisit's Democrat Party, which came in second in a December 2007 general election, cobbled together a ruling coalition from defecting supporters of the previous administration.

"This government is full of robbers. We did not vote for them. The majority of this country did not vote for them but somehow they are in power because the elite want them to be," said Jatuporn Phromphan, another protest leader, on top of a pickup truck amid loud cheers.

Abhisit's government held its weekly Cabinet meeting in Hua Hin, 90 miles (150 kilometers) southwest of Bangkok, instead of its usual venue at Government House, at which some 3,000 police in riot gear were deployed. Two-thousand army troops were on standby in the area, said police Lt. Gen. Worapong Chiewpreecha.

"We will not use violence," Abhisit told reporters. "I am not concerned. I am ready to walk into (the Government House) as long as there are no weapons."

Jakrapob said the demonstrators would camp out there for at least two days to press their demands but would not break in as their political rivals had done.

What do you think, NSG, is the political future of Thailand? Will this protest, although pacifical, break into violence? Will these protestors achieve what they want? And what, if anything, will become of Thailand in Asia's eyes?

Just normal Thai politics. I was there when a group of monks were going to address parliament and got caught with AK-47's under their robes.

I'm not convinced that democracy is the best solution when there's such a marked difference in education between voters.

This is a battle between Bangkok and the rest of the country, i wonder if Bangkok should be a principality, with certain autonomy, as opposed to being governed in the same way as the rest of the country.

Populism might be said to be a disease of the uninformed yet one can see it in advanced countries let alone such widely disparate countries such as Thailand.

It's difficult, one could point to any country and see great divisions between opposing points of view, it's hard to be objective in coming to a solution.

Isn't there a greater-than-usual rural/urban divide in Thailand? It's hard to under-emphasize how big a part of politics that divide can be, even in the most developed nations. I'm not sure how relevant it is to Thai politics, though; it's a country I find extremely interesting but never really get a chance to study because my emphasis is very much the Middle East. =\

I'm not convinced that democracy is the best solution when there's such a marked difference in education between voters.

This is a battle between Bangkok and the rest of the country, i wonder if Bangkok should be a principality, with certain autonomy, as opposed to being governed in the same way as the rest of the country.

Populism might be said to be a disease of the uninformed yet one can see it in advanced countries let alone such widely disparate countries such as Thailand.

It's difficult, one could point to any country and see great divisions between opposing points of view, it's hard to be objective in coming to a solution.

The problem with a principality, although I do see your point, is that people will, no matter what, increasingly feel a nationalistic pride that may very well result in more problems. Thailand, as sovereign country, already has those galore.

The problem with a principality, although I do see your point, is that people will, no matter what, increasingly feel a nationalistic pride that may very well result in more problems. Thailand, as sovereign country, already has those galore.

wait until they start arguing with Cambodia over something(anything)

wait until they start arguing with Cambodia over something(anything)

I know, Asturias does it all the time. My province is a principality of Spain.

I know, Asturias does it all the time. My province is a principality of Spain.

its crazy a movie start mentions something candidly and next thing you know they are assaulting each others embassies with shoe throwing peasants.

I know, Asturias does it all the time. My province is a principality of Spain.

its crazy a movie start mentions something candidly and next thing you know they are assaulting each others embassies with shoe throwing peasants.

its crazy a movie start mentions something candidly and next thing you know they are assaulting each others embassies with shoe throwing peasants.

We live in a frivolous world. It's a pity, but that's how it is.