Protesters aim for paralysis of Thai capital
Bangkok – Anti- government demonstrators began to occupy major intersections in Thailand’s capital overnight in what they say is an effort to shut down Bangkok, a plan that has raised fears of violence that could trigger a military coup.
The protesters are trying to force caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to resign and have her government replaced by a nonelected interim administration, to implement reforms they say are needed to stop corruption. They want to scuttle an early election called by Yingluck for February 2.
Since November, the demonstrators have engaged in street battles with police, cut off water and electricity to national police headquarters, and occupied the compounds of other government agencies. At least eight people, including a policeman, have died in violence associated with the political unrest.
The protest leaders said last week that demonstrators would occupy seven key intersections today in Bangkok.
They are also threatening to occupy government office compounds.
Groups of demonstrators began arriving at the venues late yesterday and erected stages.
Earlier yesterday, some demonstrators blocked a road in Bangkok’s northern outskirts, where many government offices are located, said police spokesman Colonel Anucha Romyanan. There were no immediate confrontations with the authorities, who have vowed to show restraint in order to avoid violence.
Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said on Friday that a combined force of about 12,000 police officers and 8000 soldiers was being deployed to maintain order in the capital.
Protest leaders have said they will maintain their ‘‘ shutdown’’ of Bangkok for weeks, or until they obtain their goal.
Their recent demonstrations have drawn up to 200,000 people at their height. Attacks on government installations have been carried out by young men armed with homemade weapons.
The protesters’ attempt to destabilise the country has been assisted by the opposition Democrat Party, which is boycotting the February elections. The main protest leader is a former senior Democrat leader, Suthep Thaugsuban, who served at deputy prime minister in the party’s 2008- 11 government.
‘‘ I want to announce on this important night that the masses will not accept any proposals or negotiations,’’ Suthep told supporters last night. ‘‘ In this fight, defeat is defeat and victory is victory. There is no tie. There’s no winwin. There’s only win on one side.’’
The current crisis dates back to 2006, when mass protests calling for then- prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra – Yingluck’s brother – to step down because of alleged corruption and abuse of power led to a military coup. Since then, supporters and opponents of Thaksin have vied for power, sometimes violently.
The protesters claim that billionaire Thaksin continues to manipulate Thai politics though his sister, by using his wealth to buy elections.
Thaksin, however, commands overwhelming support in Thailand’s less well- off rural areas, where voters are grateful for his populist programmes, including virtually free health care. He and his allies have won every national election since 2001.
Concern about a coup is high because of the army’s history of intervening in politics. Army commander General Prayuth Chan- ocha has refused to rule out the possibility of a military takeover.
Another deputy prime minister, Pongthep Thepkanjana, said he believed the army had learned a lesson from the 2006 coup – which ended up polarising Thailand rather than pacifying it – and that the international community and many Thais would be opposed to a military takeover.
The grassroots pro- Thaksin Red Shirt movement, closely allied to Yingluck’s Pheu Thai Party, has said it will mobilise its supporters to fight any coup.