Key dates in Thai political crisis

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Key dates in Thai political crisis

BANGKOK, November 27, 2013 (AFP) - Following is a timeline of the main events in Thailand's political crisis since Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted seven years ago:

-- 2006 --
September 19: The army seizes power in a bloodless coup while Thaksin is in New York. More than a year of military rule follows.

-- 2007 --
June: Anti-graft panel freezes Thaksin's assets.
December: The People Power Party, comprising Thaksin's allies, wins elections and goes on to form a coalition government.

-- 2008 --
May: The royalist, anti-Thaksin "Yellow Shirts" relaunch street protests that precipitated the 2006 coup.
September: State of emergency declared after clashes between pro- and anti-government groups that left one person dead and dozens wounded.

Constitutional Court strips Thaksin-allied premier Samak Sundaravej of his powers, ruling he illegally accepted payments for hosting TV cooking shows. Thaksin's brother-in-law Somchai Wongsawat takes his place.

October: Clashes between police and demonstrators kill two people and wound nearly 500. A court sentences Thaksin in absentia to two years in jail for corruption after he flees the country.

November-December: Thousands of Yellow Shirts blockade Bangkok's airports. State of emergency is declared for nearly two weeks.

December: Constitutional Court dissolves Somchai's party, forcing him from office. British-born Abhisit Vejjajiva of the Democrats becomes premier in a parliamentary vote with army backing, leading a six-party coalition.

-- 2009 --
January-March: "Red Shirts" loyal to Thaksin stage mass protests in the capital against Abhisit's government.
April: Red Shirts storm the venue of an Asian summit in the beach resort of Pattaya, forcing the evacuation of regional leaders. Riots and a 12-day state of emergency in Bangkok ensue, leaving two people dead.

-- 2010 --
February: Supreme Court confiscates $1.4 billion of Thaksin's wealth after ruling he abused his power.
March: Tens of thousands of Red Shirts begin rolling demonstrations calling for Abhisit's government to step down, saying it is elitist and undemocratic.

April-May: A series of street clashes between Red Shirt protesters and troops leaves more than 90 people dead, mostly civilians, in the country's worst civil unrest in decades.

The protest ends when soldiers firing live rounds and backed by armoured vehicles storm the rally camp. Major buildings in Bangkok, including the stock exchange, are set on fire with each side blaming the other for the arson attacks.

-- 2011 --
May: Government announces July 3 election. Thaksin's youngest sister Yingluck Shinawatra emerges as the main opposition candidate for premier.

July: Thaksin's allies sweep to power on a wave of support among their Red Shirt followers.
August: Parliament elects Yingluck -- described by her brother as his "clone" -- as Thailand's first female prime minister.

-- 2012 --
April: Addressing supporters from neighbouring Laos, Thaksin says he will step foot in his homeland again by the end of the year.

June: Parliament shelves debate on controversial legislation that opponents feared would open the door to Thaksin's return.

November: Police fire tear gas and detain dozens of demonstrators as clashes erupt at the first major street protests against Yingluck's government.

December: Authorities announce former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban will face murder charges linked to the 2010 crackdown. Twenty-four Red Shirt leaders go on trial on terrorism charges linked to the 2010 protests.

-- 2013 --
August: Around 2,000 anti-government demonstrators protest near parliament against a controversial bill offering an amnesty for political violence.

October: Thousands of people join daily anti-amnesty rallies in Bangkok.

November 1: Lower house of parliament overwhelmingly passes the controversial political amnesty bill, triggering growing protests. But the upper house later unanimously rejects it.

November 24: Pressure builds on the government with up to 180,000 people joining opposition protests in Bangkok, according to an estimate by the National Security Council.

November 25: Opposition protesters occupy the finance and foreign ministries. Yingluck imposes a special security law across the capital, giving extra powers to the police.

November 26: Anti-government demonstrators besiege several more ministries to try to topple the government. Yingluck faces a no-confidence debate in parliament. A court approves an arrest warrant for protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-11-27