Bangkok under state of emergency
September 2, 2008
Bangkok under state of emergency
Thailand’s Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has declared a state of emergency in the capital Bangkok, after clashes left at least one person dead.
Dozens more were hurt in the fighting early on Tuesday.
The sweeping powers ban public gatherings and introduce media restrictions.
Mr Samak said he had “no choice” but to impose the measure in order to end the week-old revolt by supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy.
Separately, in a fresh blow to the government, the Thai election commission recommended that Mr Samak’s People Power Party be disbanded over claims of vote-buying in elections last December.
The recommendation will not lead to immediate action against the party, as it must now be considered by the public prosecutor’s office, but correspondents say it piles further pressure on Mr Samak’s government.
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  In pictures: Bangkok clashes
Q&A: Bangkok protests
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If the prosecutor submits the case to the Constitutional Court and the ruling is upheld Mr Samak and other top party leaders would be banned from politics for five years.
PAD supporters say the government is a front for Thaksin Shinawatra - the former prime minister, now in exile, whom the PAD was instrumental in removing in a coup in 2006.
The PAD has a passionate following in various parts of the country, especially Bangkok, and some powerful backers among the elite.
But it has little support in most of rural Thailand, which voted strongly for Prime Minister Samak, and Mr Thaksin before him.
Shots fired
The street clashes began shortly after midnight, when a screaming crowd of government supporters - armed with sticks and slingshots - ploughed into a group from the PAD, who have been occupying the prime minister’s office.
Amid the ensuing fighting, some gunshots were fired - both sides are now reported to possess some firearms.
One person died, and TV pictures showed some of the at least 43 people injured lying bleeding on the ground.
For much of the time, police officers simply stood on the sidelines, our correspondent says. But by daybreak, the situation was reportedly calmer, with unarmed troops trying to keep the two sides separate.
“I had no other choice but to declare a state of emergency in Bangkok in order to solve the problem for once and for all.
“The military and police will carry out the implementation.”
Mr Samak put the army commander, General Anupong Paojinda, in charge of enforcing the state of emergency in the capital. The general now has special powers to:
- detain and remove people from any location
- deploy troops to help police maintain order
- ban gatherings of more than five people
- impose restrictions on media reports that could “undermine public security”.
South Korea and Singapore have advised their citizens against any non-essential travel to Thailand.
The PAD leader said protesters occupying the government’s building had refused to move, despite the state of emergency.
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KEY EVENTS
Sept 2006: Bloodless coup by military sees PM Thaksin Shinawatra removed from office
April 2007: New military-drafted constitution approved
Dec 2007: General election won by People Power Party (PPP), seen as reincarnation of Thaksin’s now banned Thai Rak Thai party
Jan 2008: Samak Sundaravej chosen as PM
Feb 2008: Thaksin returns from exile
May 2008: PAD protests against Samak begin
July 2008: Thaksin goes on trial for corruption; his wife is found guilty of fraud. By mid-August the family has fled to the UK
August 2008: PAD protests escalate
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“There are not enough jails to put us all into,” Chamlong Srimuang told thousands of PAD demonstrators.
One anti-government protester, a trained doctor who wishes to remain anonymous, told the BBC he had treated some of the injured after the clashes last night.
“The major injuries were taken to hospital straight away but I looked after the people with wounds and lacerations on the head,” he said. “They couldn’t tell me anything about what happened - they were very confused.”
He added that people have been apprehensive since the state of emergency was declared.
“Our leaders have tried to call on all the people of Thailand to come out and join the protest so that we have enough people to prevent violence. We believe that the more people know and join, then we remain safe,” he said.
Despite the new powers formally granted to the army to crush the PAD campaign, it is not yet clear how the army will use those powers in this highly charged atmosphere.
Until now, the army has tried to maintain a posture of neutrality - and there may be some support for PAD within the army.
Strikes called
This crisis began exactly a week ago when thousands of PAD supporters took to the streets of Bangkok and forced their way into government buildings.
Protesters went on to shut down airports and rail services. Public sector unions said they would begin a nationwide strike at 43 state enterprises on Wednesday unless the prime minister stepped down.
The State Enterprise Workers Relations Confederation also threatened to cut off water, electricity and phone service at government offices and disrupt flights.
The BBC’s Jonathan Head in Bangkok says there appear to be very few ways out of this crisis, with the country so bitterly divided.
Source: bbc.co.uk/
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