Thai premier says protesters will be cleared

By DENIS D. GRAY,Associated Press Writer - Monday, May 3
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BANGKOK – Thailand's prime minister said Sunday the government was preparing to clear an area of Bangkok defended by thousands of anti-government protesters, seeking to end a crisis which has virtually paralyzed the capital.
Many Thais have grown increasingly frustrated with the stalemate, which has dragged on for nearly eight weeks, claiming the lives of at least 27 people and costing the country tens of millions of dollars. It has sparked concerns of a flare-up of civil unrest.
"We are sending a clear signal that we have given people enough time to leave (the occupied zone). We are now in the process of sealing off and cutting off support before we actually move in," Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in an interview with several foreign journalists to be nationally televised.
Thousands of so-called Red Shirt protesters have occupied a barricaded encampment in the commercial heart of Bangkok, centered on its most upmarket shopping district, forcing the closure of several malls and hotels.
Abhisit declined to elaborate on an earlier announced plan to end the crisis which he said did not include the declaration of martial law. In an emergency meeting Sunday, the Cabinet approved special funding for the police to contain the demonstrators.
"My belief is that the majority of the people want the protest to end. Increasingly their patience is running out. This is a situation we have to handle," he said in the interview.
The protesters, mostly from the rural and urban poor, view the government as an illegitimate puppet of Bangkok's elite and the military, are demanding Abhisit resign, dissolve Parliament and call new elections.
Abhisit has rejected the call for quick elections and publicly suspended talks with the protesters but says he still hopes a political solution will persuade the Red Shirts to leave.
Speaking at a closely guarded military camp on the city's outskirts, Abhisit gave no indication when any operation against the entrenched protesters would be launched. But he said the demonstrators, who include a large number of women and children, would be given prior warning.
"I can say that we continue to exercise restraint and patience and the first, best solution is one that does not involve violence," he said.
In a small concession, the demonstrators on Sunday shifted their tire barricades away from a hospital on the edge of their encampment in a move intended to allow the medical facility to reopen.
Abhisit said earlier Sunday he was reluctant to give in to demands from a group of pro-establishment protesters who have called for a declaration of martial law.
"So far, from what we have discussed, we (the government and the army) think that the situation doesn't warrant martial law," he said in his weekly television broadcast.
The Red Shirts said they would ignore any declaration of martial law anyway.
"Even if they announce that, we are not going to go home, we are going to stay put," said Nattawut Saikua, a Red Shirt leader.
The Red Shirts drew intense criticism last week after raiding Chulalongkorn Hospital on the edge of their protest site, prompting medical officials to evacuate it of patients.
On Sunday, the demonstrators dismantled the barricade blocking access to the hospital and rebuilt it about 50 yards (meters) away, on the other side of the entrance to the facility. Police then used a crane to assemble a short barrier of concrete blocks in front of the new barricade, effectively fortifying the protest camp.
Maj. Gen. Vichai Sangparpai, a top police official, said the blocks were intended to keep the protesters away from the hospital, which was guarded Sunday by large groups of police officers.
Nattawut said the Red Shirt raid on the hospital was a mistake and offered an apology.
Since the Red Shirts moved into Bangkok in mid-March, there have been several clashes between protesters and security forces. With negotiations between the protesters and the government on hold and hopes for a peaceful end to the standoff dwindling, calls have grown for international mediation.
The International Crisis Group think tank said Saturday that Thailand's political system had broken down and expressed fears the standoff could "deteriorate into an undeclared civil war."
But Abhisit, in the interview, said that only in three or four of the country's provinces was there "a (protest) movement in parallel with Bangkok that has to be handled. The rest of the country is well under control."
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Associated Press Writers Ravi Nessman and Thanyarat Doksone contributed to this report

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20100502/tap-as-thailand-politics-3rd-ld-writethr-7934085.html (accessed 3 May 2010)

This article is about a group of anti-government Thai protesters, also known as the Red Shirt protesters living in the rural and urban areas of Bangkok, Thailand. What actually happened was many Thais were frustrated with the stalemale that is ongoing in Thailand for eight weeks since the 3rd of May. Due to this particular matter, it had sparked concerns of a flare-up of a civil unrest. Protesters have even occupied a barricaded encampment in the commercial heart of Bangkok which ultimately forced the closure of most shopping malls as well as hotels. The protesters were unhappy with the government due to the fact that the government wanted to impose a martial law on the citizens, in which the citizens were not willing to abide. Protests were sparked off because the current Prime Minister, Abhisit, undemocratically pushed himself up to his current position.
I personally think that if the Thai government wanted to bring down the recent protest, they should put themselves in the citizen’s shoes and think in their point of view. From the article, it is reported that Thailand’s political system had broken down, and I feel that the way to repair the system is not to force military or government decisions on the people to cause more unhappiness among them. What the government should do is to listen to what the protesters have to say and to resolve the issue democratically.

The government of Thailand including Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had decided to clear an area which is defended by many anti-government protestors. This decision was made to put an end to the stalemate conflict between both parties due to political issues. The incident has been around for 8 weeks up till 6 May 2010, which resulted in lives lost, closure of several hospital and malls, resulting in an economical downturn for the country. Military support was used to gain control of the situation, however citizens in that area were told to evacuate women and children were given prior warning. The situation have improved by a little when the Red-Shirt protestors moved the barricade away from a hospital , enabling medical care to be given out to those who are injured. I personally feel that the raid on the Chulalongkorn hospital was unnecessary as the protestors did not spare a thought about the injured and the sick at that moment in time and even took a week’s time to release it. Despite the rest of the country being well controlled, the government should make a firm stand on political decisions and have ample military support in the beginning to prevent such breakouts. (Benjamin)

The chaotic situation in Bangkok has started since March 2010. There have been protesters mostly coming from the rural and urban poor places occupying posh Bangkok shopping area, causing business operations to be impossible to operate. The protest has lasted for almost 8 weeks, claiming the lives of at least 27 people and costing the country tens of millions of dollars. Now plans have been made (election in November) to make the situation come to an end. The protesters call themselves ‘’ Red shirts ‘’. They view the government as an unlawful puppet of Bangkok’s elite and the military. This is also the main reason why they want to invade the streets so that something can be done to improve their lives. This protest, i believe is rather meaningless and it puts the economics of Bangkok at risk. The government should review on the reasons of the protest and come out with a proposal to satisfy the ‘’Red shirts’’. Personally I do not believe that violence can solve any problem, not to say the protest that has lasted for nearly 8 weeks. The leaders of the ‘’red shirts’’ should have a peaceful talk with the government with no violence incorporated to have a both win-win situation to restore the streets back to its original position. I really hope that Bangkok will be peaceful again as I view Bangkok as a beautiful country with enriched culture. (Serene Chow Hui wen)

The civil unrest which centred Bangkok, Thailand, has dragged on for 8 painstaking weeks. Anarchy and lawlessness has governed the once law abiding country. Death toll has amounted to 27 and irrevocable damages to public property in the sum of 10s of million. The protestors are marching around with their placards voicing out the same tune of unjust and dissent to the government’s mind puppetry for the military purposes. They demanded that Abhisit step down from power along with his parliament affiliates. In retaliation Abhisit is imposing martial law to the general public.
Not speaking from any hindsight, I view that civil disobedience is a vindicated form of patriotism. However, when it turns egregiously dirty for both government and protestors a line has to be stepped to prevent any further futile bloodshed. Violence will only beget more violence and no form of solution will be derived from a pile of rotting fleshes. We have all seen this profound depiction in WW2. A peace talk will be the more viable solution, one which will both satisfy the needs of the dissenters and ones regulating the welfare of the people.
The path of least resistance will bore the most effective of result.
(Saifullah)