Anti-Government Protesters Blockade Thai Parliament Despite Police Intervention | Voice of America - English
Thailand's government faces an escalating crisis after police repeatedly fired tear gas to break up protesters blockading the parliament building. The clashes led to the resignation of a deputy prime minister.
The violence in Bangkok erupted earlyTuesday when riot police using tear gas and stun bombs to clearanti-government demonstrators who had barricaded themselves outside theparliament building. The protesters, led by the People'sAlliance for Democracy, unsuccessfully tried to prevent Prime MinisterSomchai Wongsawat from making his maiden policy speech. Policeand protesters clashed several times during the day, and nearbyhospitals reported more than 100 people were admitted with injuries. A doctor at the Ramathibodi Hospital says emergency wards are on high alert. "Weare prepared for mass casualty in the hospitals around about three tofive hospitals around this area ... bomb or just eye [tear] gas," said the doctor. PAD supporters, angry over the arrest of two of their leaders, vow to continue their blockade until the government quits. DeputyPrime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh resigned to take responsibilityfor Tuesday's clashes. He had been working to negotiate an end to thePAD siege of the prime minister's office building. Protestersaccuse Mr. Somchai's government of acting as a proxy for deposed PrimeMinister Thaksin Shinawatra. He now lives in Britain, having fled inAugust to avoid corruption charges. PAD supporters accuse Mr. Thaksinof being corrupt and authoritarian. A protester named Sam, was among thousands calling for the government to resign. "Thepeople do not accept this government, so what we ask for, we ask forreal democracy not a government of Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra ? and thisprime minister is the brother-in-law of Thaksin Shinawatra," he said. Otherprotesters accuse of the government of seeking to undermine thecountry's revered monarchy. Wannnisayanam says more people are comingto join the protests despite the clashes with police. "We'vebeen here for the king - our king. We are not going to let anybodydestroy democracy - you see how many people that are coming here," saidWannnisayanam. The PAD leadership wants to prevent Mr.Somchai's government from passing constitutional amendments thatcritics say favor Mr. Thaksin. However, the PAD wants to rewrite theconstitution so that most members of parliament will be selected byelite groups such as business owners. Sunai Pasuk, a spokesman for Human Rights Watch's Thai office, says the PAD appears to hope to trigger a military intervention. "Thisis a situation where the PAD can conveniently pressure the military totake sides.? It is clear that the crackdown can be categorized asexcessive use of violence by security forces and the action of thepolice today can be directly linked to the policy of Prime MinisterSomchai," he said. In his policy speech Tuesday, Mr. Somchaicalled for national reconciliation, and said his government isdetermined to tackle economic problems the country faces.