Thai PM rejects protest demands in national address

[george]

Thai PM rejects protest calls as clashes rock Bangkok
by Apilaporn VECHAKIJ

BANGKOK, December 2, 2013 (AFP) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra rejected protester demands to suspend the country's democratic system and indicated she would not resign Monday amid rolling clashes between security forces and demonstrators bent on toppling her government.

Police used rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon against rock-throwing demonstrators as they intensified their defence of key government buildings after weekend unrest in the capital left several dead and over a hundred wounded.

The protests, aimed at unseating the elected government and replacing it with a "people's council", are the latest outbreak of civil strife to rock the kingdom since royalist generals ousted Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck's brother, seven years ago.

Bloodshed in the capital in recent days is the worst political violence in Thailand since a deadly 2010 military crackdown on pro-Thaksin "Red Shirts".

In her first televised address since the weeks-long protests descended into violence late Saturday, Yingluck said she could not accede to the demands of the protest leaders because they would breach the country's laws.

"Anything I can do to make people happy, I am willing to do... but as prime minister, what I can do must be under the constitution," she said, adding that she did not "cling to power".

The embattled premier said she would have considered resigning or calling an election if protesters had not already ruled out these moves as insufficient, insisting the government was open to "every option" to restore peace.

Protesters, led by former opposition MP Suthep Thaugsuban, on Sunday issued an ultimatum for Yingluck's government to be ousted and hand power "to the people" in a secret meeting with Yingluck in the presence of army, navy and air force commanders.

"There will be no bargaining and it must be finished in two days," said Suthep after the talks.

The demonstrators have rejected elections and said they want to root out the "Thaksin regime", in reference to the former premier who is widely seen as the power behind Yingluck's government.

Thaksin, a billionaire tycoon-turned-politician, is hated by the elites, Bangkok's middle class and southerners, who have massed in the capital in recent days and accuse the ousted leader of corruption and threatening the monarchy.

But he is adored by many outside Bangkok, particularly in his stronghold in the nation's north, which has helped him and his allies win every election for a decade.

Yingluck, whose ruling party stormed to power on a wave of Thaksin support at elections in 2011, on Monday said any solution to the crisis would have to be "acceptable to the majority".

The Thai leader has kept a low profile during the unrest, a move some analysts read as an attempt to avoid further inflaming the protesters.

But officials confirmed increased use of force on Monday as protests intensified.

"There are rubber bullets used today," Paradorn Pattanatabut, Secretary General of the National Security Council told AFP on telephone.

"The protesters seemed to get more violent," he said, adding that tear gas had not been sufficient.

Police are trying to defend barriers at the prime minister's offices and Metropolitan Police headquarters against protesters who have besieged several key ministries.

Television footage appeared to show a heavy lifting vehicle being driven from one of the protesters' bases close to Government House, where police have deployed concrete blocks to hold off demonstrators.

Some schools and universities in the capital were closed for safety reasons, authorities said.

While the protesters' numbers have fallen since an estimated 180,000 people joined an opposition rally on November 24, they have besieged high-profile targets including ministries in what some observers believe is an attempt to provoke a military coup.

Thailand has seen 18 actual or attempted coups since 1932, most recently with Thaksin's overthrow in 2006, but the military has appeared reluctant to intervene in the current standoff.

Thailand is due to celebrate the birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Thursday in a public holiday that is normally embraced in a spirit of calm and reverence for the ageing monarch.

The weekend's violence broke out Saturday near a suburban stadium where tens of thousands of pro-government "Red Shirts" had gathered in support of Yingluck.

Several were killed and dozens wounded, according to Bangkok's Erawan emergency centre.

Authorities have deployed more than 2,700 troops to reinforce security in Bangkok, the first time a significant number of soldiers has been mobilised to cope with the recent unrest.

The protests were triggered by an amnesty bill, since abandoned by the ruling party, which opponents feared would have allowed Thaksin to return to the country.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-12-02

[bigbamboo]

"Anything I can do to make people happy, I am willing to do...."

Bless.

But she's leaving herself wide open with that line.

[Biscuit22]

Hypocrisy to the highest degree pretending to preserve the constitution.

Thaksin knows that they will NOT make it back to power so easily with an uncorruptable system in place.

Hence, he has ordered them to not relinquish power.

This now will go on way past the 5th Dec.

All may be suspended for that day, or it may not, because the government will cynically just use it to regain their ministries and strengthen them.

One thing is clear though. The government WILL be gone, and it may be either the constitutional court or the army, it just depends on which one and how many may have to surrender their lives before it happens.

THAKSIN wants his hands on the 2.2 trillion!

[webfact]

PM ready to resign to end protests

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said today she was ready to resign if her resignation could persuade demonstrators to end the protests and return homes, and peace could be restored in the country.

She also said she did not know what to do on the two-day ultimatum demanded by the protest leader Suthep Thuagsuban to hand over administrative power to the people.

She said his proposed people’s council was unacceptable because there was no law to provide such formation of people’s council.

But she said she would stay open to all talks to end the differences and bring the country back to peace.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-ready-resign-end-protests/

-- Thai PBS 2013-12-02

[Biscuit22]

By the way... Wife just said that they won't stop protesting for the 5th, they will just stay there and celebrate where they are and many more people may come to join and support them.

[Tatsujin]

Too little, too late . . . they've lost all credibility and this won't end now until they are all out and the process of "building a democracy" starts all over again with more checks and balances and less legal grey areas.

[webfact]

BANGKOK CHAOS
Protesters' demands unconstitutional : PM
YThe Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday rejected the demands of anti-government protesters, saying what they want is unacceptable under the constitution.

In a televised news conference Monday, Yingluck said she is willing to "open every door’’ for negotiations to find a peaceful resolution to the ongoing political crisis.

Rally leader Suthep Thaugsubanhas said he won’t be satisfied with Yingluck’s resignation or new elections. Instead, he wants an unelected "people’s council’’ to pick a new prime minister.

"I don’t know how we can proceed’’ with that, she said. ``We don’t know how to make it happen. Right now we don’t see any way to resolve the problem under the constitution," she said in the brief 12-minute news conference.

"If there is any way I can restore peace I am willing to do it. The government does not have to hold on to power we only want peace."


-- The Nation 2013-12-02

[david555]

By the way... Wife just said that they won't stop protesting for the 5th, they will just stay there and celebrate where they are and many more people may come to join and support them.

i wonder if the R Thai army would take that insult......?

[antimuds]

How to stop when students are killed? U think their parents will let this thing rest? Yingluck say no force will be used, but why are there real bullets used on protestors?

[jes]

It would not solve a damn thing. If she does, then the "red" to retaliate and it will become more bloody than in 2010, I think. Stay on your post. You are elected by the people, in a fair way.

[newcomer71]

Too little, too late . . . they've lost all credibility and this won't end now until they are all out and the process of "building a democracy" starts all over again with more checks and balances and less legal grey areas.

Agree with Thaksin out of the politics forever. And agree with a "building a democracy" process.

Clearly also Suthep out of this process and all the rest of corrupt politicians.

And now it is not a pacific protest anymore (as long ad using catapults against police can be considered pacific). How far that criminal wants to go?

[antimuds]

Do anything to bring peace?? By killing your own people?

[zydeco]

Well, at least she finally said something. I think I just might take her up on her willingness to resign and call for new elections. Let's see if she really means it.

[Biscuit22]

By the way... Wife just said that they won't stop protesting for the 5th, they will just stay there and celebrate where they are and many more people may come to join and support them.

i wonder if the R Thai army would take that insult......?

Why would they?

[MaxLee]

Well, at least she finally said something. I think I just might take her up on her willingness to resign and call for new elections. Let's see if she really means it.

With so many Shinawatra's in the family. Finding a replacement wouldn't be such a problem, would there be???

[JRSoul]

It would not solve a dam_n thing. If she does, then the "red" to retaliate and it will become more bloody than in 2010, I think. Stay on your post. You are elected by the people, in a fair way.

You could add that she's doing such a great job, but I guess you are too honest.

It's the second part of her statement that got to me; "what I can do must be under the constitution." That didn't stop her from trying, or rejecting the validity of the court ruling, or trying corruptly to pass legislation for family benefit.

[Biscuit22]

How to stop when students are killed? U think their parents will let this thing rest? Yingluck say no force will be used, but why are there real bullets used on protestors?

Also why were there no police to help?

Apart from helping the red shirts of course.

[Emptyset]

How to stop when students are killed? U think their parents will let this thing rest? Yingluck say no force will be used, but why are there real bullets used on protestors?

How many students were killed? I saw something posted yesterday by someone who claimed to be a volunteer nurse at RU that gave a list of four dead students. I was able to ascertain very quickly that at least one on the list was still alive. Also claimed that there was a student with a leg blown off by a grenade or something like that. I've yet to see any independent confirmation of this though.

Also, in 2010 did you wonder how it was possible for the reds to stop after some of them were killed on April 10th?

[icare999]

she's said she's ready to resign and call new elections. So why not just do that and defuse situation.

The reason is she wont unless forced because to do so would kill amnesty Bill and probability given whats happened that even if they got voted in again they would almost certainly not dare try that again.

So just resign and call elections and take wind out of Suphet's sails.

I loathe like many Taksin and all his clan but if again in a fair and honest election theirs enough who are content with a megalomaniac monster to rule them so be it. Id rather they were given one more chance and then I can decide from result weather to leave or not. I certainly with sadness would not want to live under a one party Taksin state. However my family are Thai and over 30 years we've invested most of what we have but have kept a bit aside abroad in case. IT will not happen overnight so wed almost certainly have ay least 5 years before Thailand became a zimbabwie under a Taksin boot and thats enough time to sell out all except our home.

[zydeco]

Well, at least she finally said something. I think I just might take her up on her willingness to resign and call for new elections. Let's see if she really means it.

With so many Shinawatra's in the family. Finding a replacement wouldn't be such a problem, would there be???

But YL was chosen for specific reasons. I doubt the older sister could lead the government. And I think what we've seen over the past few years is that nobody in that family is capable of doing anything without TS telling them what, when, and how to act. If PTP starts to fragment, it well could disintegrate over night. Imagine Thida and Jatuporn leading their own factions.

[Local Drunk]

"She also said she did not know what to do"

The first honest words from anyone in this government.

[rubl]

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday rejected the demands of anti-government protesters

11 minutes later:

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said today she was ready to resign

So, yes maybe depending on the weather or so ?

[Scott]

Off-topic posts and posts with sexual references and replies have been removed.

[falkan]

this reminds me a bit of middle east were the people voted for the - wrong - candidate and doesn't matter what they do, north still will have more people then south

whoever controls issan controls thailand..

[Emptyset]

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday rejected the demands of anti-government protesters

11 minutes later:

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said today she was ready to resign

So, yes maybe depending on the weather or so ?

You are aware protesters are not demanding she resign?

[Biscuit22]

Even if she resigns it will be a big NO to dissolving parliament.

Nothing will change and Thaksin will still run the PTP, the amnesty bill will not be killed by the YS resignation, it is a PTP bill supported by YS. It still remains in the house. IF PTP are still there after the limbo period expires, their new PM can easily restart it for the 50 + 1 and make it legal.

Then the party can call on dissolution and the bill can not be undone. Then Thaksin can do what he wants with the new elections. If he fails, there is time and money to see eventually he is back in the big seat.

If his life extends that far.

[Nickymaster]

Meanwhile... police are using rubber bullets and first casualties have been reported.

Well done Yingluck! Just keep on serving your brother (and don't forget to repeat how much you care for ALL Thai people).

[rubl]

Yes, the anti-government protesters want her to step down as PM instead.

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday rejected the demands of anti-government protesters

11 minutes later:

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said today she was ready to resign

So, yes maybe depending on the weather or so ?

You are aware protesters are not demanding she resign?

[Biscuit22]

Meanwhile... police are using rubber bullets and first casualties have been reported.

Well done Yingluck! Just keep on serving your brother (and don't forget to repeat how much you care for ALL Thai people).

Just saw that myself.... They won't stop till they are in Government House. Even if folks get killed. They won't stop.

[antimuds]

Money was paid to the reds during 2010 bloodshed, but for the yellows , not paid. 4 students confirmed shot n died.