Thai govt rejects election delay despite deadly violence

[webfact]

Thai govt rejects election delay despite deadly violence
by Anusak KONGLANG

BANGKOK, December 26, 2013 (AFP) - Thailand's government Thursday rejected calls to postpone February elections after clashes between police and opposition protesters in the capital left one policeman dead and dozens wounded on both sides.

The new outbreak of civil strife deepened the crisis facing Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, whose government has been shaken by weeks of mass street rallies seeking to curb her family's political dominance.

The long-running conflict broadly pits a Bangkok-based middle class and elite against rural and working-class voters loyal to Yingluck's older brother Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted as premier by a military coup in 2006.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets Thursday at rock-throwing demonstrators who tried to force their way into a sports stadium in the capital where election candidates were gathered to register for the February 2 polls.

The protesters -- who want to overthrow Yingluck's government and install an unelected "people's council" in its place -- accuse billionaire tycoon-turned-politician Thaksin of corruption and say he controls his sister's government from his base in Dubai.

They have vowed to block the February election, saying it will only return Thaksin's allies to power.

Nearly 100 people from both sides were injured, according to the emergency services.

Twenty-five police officers were hospitalised, with 10 in serious condition, according to a police spokesman. One police officer died of a gunshot wound.

"Today democracy in Thailand is hijacked by violence & thuggery. Shame!" Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher with New York-based Human Rights Watch, wrote on Twitter.

As the violence escalated the Election Commission recommended the February polls be delayed indefinitely.

"We cannot organise free and fair elections under the constitution in the current circumstances," said commission member Prawit Rattanapien, who along with other vote officials had to be evacuated from the stadium by helicopter.

But the government rejected the proposal, saying it would not solve the bitter standoff.

"The government believes delaying an election will cause more violence," Deputy Prime Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana said in a televised address to the nation.

He noted that under the constitution, an election should normally be held no more than 60 days after the dissolution of parliament, which happened in early December.

The main opposition Democrat Party -- which has not won an elected majority in about two decades -- has vowed to boycott the vote.

Thailand has seen several bouts of political turmoil since Thaksin's overthrow.

His supporters have accused the protesters of trying to incite the military to seize power again, in a country which has seen 18 successful or attempted coups since 1932.

Those wounded Thursday included one protester who was reported in serious condition with an apparent gunshot wound to his head.

Two journalists, one Thai and one Japanese, were among the injured, according to the public health ministry.
Security forces denied firing live rounds, saying only rubber bullets and tear gas were used against demonstrators.
"Protesters are not peaceful and unarmed as they claimed," another deputy prime minister, Surapong Tovichakchaikul, said in a televised address.

"They are intimidating officials and trespassing in government buildings."

The weeks-long unrest, which has drawn tens of thousands of protesters onto the streets, has left six people dead and nearly 400 wounded.

It is the worst civil strife since 2010, when more than 90 civilians were killed in a bloody military crackdown on pro-Thaksin protests under the previous government.

Thaksin is adored among rural communities and the working class, particularly in the north and northeast. But he is reviled by the elite, the Bangkok middle class and many southerners, who see him as corrupt and a threat to the revered monarchy.

Pro-Thaksin parties have won every election since 2001, most recently with a landslide victory under Yingluck two years ago.

The protesters want loosely-defined reforms -- such as an end to alleged "vote buying" -- before new elections are held in around a year to 18 months.

The rallies were triggered by a controversial amnesty bill, since abandoned by the ruling party, which Thaksin's opponents feared would have allowed his return without going to jail for a corruption conviction which he says is politically motivated.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission said Thursday that it would press abuse of power charges against the speakers of the two houses of parliament in relation to another controversial proposed law, to amend the make-up of the Senate.

The anti-graft body said it was still considering whether to press the same charge against 381 other politicians, including Yingluck, who supported the bill.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-12-26

[MaiChai]

The government clings on to power? You can form your own view. Most intelligent people can see what is going on.

[wellred]

The government clings on to power? You can form your own view. Most intelligent people can see what is going on.

And what would that be?

[xminator]

How is this clinging to power? The rules they are following where made by Sutheps bedfellows.

[Spare]

The government clings on to power? You can form your own view. Most intelligent people can see what is going on.

Same same, Mark clinking to power when order the use of live bullet to disperses the protesters that caused 90+ death. You can form your own view. Most intelligent people can see what is going on.

[soi41]

The government clings on to power? You can form your own view. Most intelligent people can see what is going on.

A government put in charge by the people!!

As a intelligent person, I can see exactly, what is going on.

The elite, who is never going to win another election, is using all means to keep their place at the trough.

Even if it means a few of their pawns will have to be sacrified (killed).

That is, what is going on!!

[Nickymaster]

The government clings on to power? You can form your own view. Most intelligent people can see what is going on.

Same same, Mark clinking to power when order the use of live bullet to disperses the protesters that caused 90+ death. You can form your own view. Most intelligent people can see what is going on.

Spot on. The protestors caused 90+ death. 20 of them were officials.

[Nickymaster]

The government clings on to power? You can form your own view. Most intelligent people can see what is going on.

A government put in charge by the people!!

As a intelligent person, I can see exactly, what is going on.

The elite, who is never going to win another election, is using all means to keep their place at the trough.

Even if it means a few of their pawns will have to be sacrified (killed).

That is, what is going on!!

No

[Nickymaster]

I am 100% sure there will be no election on Feb 2.

[david555]

I noticed a change in Suthep T. today now this moment on Blue sky ......he does suddenly not smile anymore in panorama style......

[tominbkk]

Thaksin thinks "The Election Must Go On!!!". Pheua Thai Acts accordingly.

[PeterSmiles]

The government clings on to power? You can form your own view. Most intelligent people can see what is going on.

And what would that be?

Because the amnesty bill gonna come back in what is it now 130 days ( ? ) , and they want to be in power that day to pass it through the lower house.

If there is no government on that particular day, the bill is waisted.

[blaze]

Post removed becuse poster had not read the whole article. Sorry.

Edited December 26, 2013 by blaze

[marcusd]

The government clings on to power? You can form your own view. Most intelligent people can see what is going on.

A government put in charge by the people!!

As a intelligent person, I can see exactly, what is going on.

The elite, who is never going to win another election, is using all means to keep their place at the trough.

Even if it means a few of their pawns will have to be sacrified (killed).

That is, what is going on!!

No

None of them ... That iseother side.. Cares about this country. They all want the power and money.

There is no Democratic side. They are both wrong

Sent from my RM-892_apac_laos_thailand_219 using Tapatalk

[bunny11kk]

The government clings on to power? You can form your own view. Most intelligent people can see what is going on.

What these most intelligent people are you talking about? Most corrupted people maybe.

[Captain_Bob]

"Bangkok-based middle class and elite against rural and working-class"

So tired of seeing this lazy cliched copy/paste "journalism". It's certainly not just affluent Bangkok people protesting against the PTP and Shinawatra clan. It's people from many provinces and many walks of life. And please, if anyone is elitist it's the Shinawatra family. By far the richest mob of all, and clearly determined to grab Thailand by the balls through their wealth and influence. Trying to portray the political situation as rich vs. poor is just plain stupid and wrong, and did I mention lazy journalism? The foreign press are especially getting the whole story wrong.

[Robby nz]

Who are this AFP crowd ?

Every second or third sentence of everything that comes from them has the same copy and paste rubbish about the BKK elite, why cant they get over that and realize this is not about the BKK rich fighting the northern poor.?

This is about the ordinary people of this country who have had a guts full of a crooked government led by a convicted criminal on the run, people who want to see change brought about for the good of the country, themselves and their children.

Yingluck has the power to stop all the violence right now by resigning, postponing the election and supporting reform by a non political group, but she wont do it.

I cant believe she is so masochistic that she really wants to be in the middle of this, there can only be one reason she is still in there and that must be at the insistence of big brother.

I see the EC commissioners are threatening to resign if the election is not postponed.

What happens if they do ?

With no body to run an election how can it go ahead?

OK reds lets have some more abuse, or possibly you could try to write something sensible.

[Nickymaster]

Who are this AFP crowd ?

Every second or third sentence of everything that comes from them has the same copy and paste rubbish about the BKK elite, why cant they get over that and realize this is not about the BKK rich fighting the northern poor.?

This is about the ordinary people of this country who have had a guts full of a crooked government led by a convicted criminal on the run, people who want to see change brought about for the good of the country, themselves and their children.

Yingluck has the power to stop all the violence right now by resigning, postponing the election and supporting reform by a non political group, but she wont do it.

I cant believe she is so masochistic that she really wants to be in the middle of this, there can only be one reason she is still in there and that must be at the insistence of big brother.

I see the EC commissioners are threatening to resign if the election is not postponed.

What happens if they do ?

With no body to run an election how can it go ahead?

OK reds lets have some more abuse, or possibly you could try to write something sensible.

Because they have never visited the protests. Or simple because they don't care. Yellow vs Red, Rich vs Poor. Democracy killing elites.

That Sells!!!!

[rubl]

So, the caretaker government believes delaying the election will cause more violence? Is that compared to the election causing just some violence?

[ggold]

The government clings on to power? You can form your own view. Most intelligent people can see what is going on.

Same same, Mark clinking to power when order the use of live bullet to disperses the protesters that caused 90+ death. You can form your own view. Most intelligent people can see what is going on.

twisting History doesn't make your comment true! It is well known that Abhisit offered elections in 2010. It was the red Shirts who refused this offer. They had every intention of staying to burn Bangkok unless parliament was dissolved.

[mojorison]

The government clings on to power? You can form your own view. Most intelligent people can see what is going on.

And what would that be?

Because the amnesty bill gonna come back in what is it now 130 days ( ? ) , and they want to be in power that day to pass it through the lower house.

If there is no government on that particular day, the bill is waisted.

I don't think the bill will be seen again in it's current form. We are witnessing a sea change in Thai society, it's different to previous uprisings. The will of the minority will not prevail in this circumstance, but that does not mean that Thaksin will be coming back any time soon. If push comes to shove as it appears, Suthep will not last. Nor will his loyal supporters. The army will go to the winningest side, in this case it will tacitly support the government. The dems will have to distance themselves from the stuff that's going down in BKK... it's getting too hot in the kitchen. The dems need to make coalition partners and develop a "team" to win a majority, to do this they have to compromise... something they are unaccustomed to. IMHO.

[Scamper]

The Yingluck government has now made an absolutely horrible decision. It is hard to imagine that the line of this government is that an election delay would mean more violence ! What rational reasoning could be possibly behind that premise ? So it is quite clear that Thaksin wants this election to take place. Clearly, his interests are maximized if - yet again - Pheu Thai takes over the " reform " process as they have repeatedly envisioned it in the past. Yingluck is the prime minister, yet seems oblivious and even dangerously removed from what is happening in the capital. All her " statements " completely skirt the harsh reality on the ground, and her minders are left to collect the pieces.

[waza]

The government clings on to power? You can form your own view. Most intelligent people can see what is going on.

Same same, Mark clinking to power when order the use of live bullet to disperses the protesters that caused 90+ death. You can form your own view. Most intelligent people can see what is going on.

twisting History doesn't make your comment true! It is well known that Abhisit offered elections in 2010. It was the red Shirts who refused this offer. They had every intention of staying to burn Bangkok unless parliament was dissolved.

The reds would have left in a flash if Abihist said in 2010 we stay in government but Thaksin gets amnesty and his money back.

Yingluck can say what she likes but the next Thaksin government will be the same as the last 3 all about a Thaksin amnesty and his return to rule.

Edited December 26, 2013 by waza

[LadPhrao1]

A great day today, when the government and police force cut off the thug mob. Well timed, as it was extremely clear that the "protestors" were not there to protest but instead intent on preventing the necessaries of preparing for the election to take place, and by any means necessary. Clearly tyranny and mob rule was preparing to become the order of the day.

Now the elected government which has the responsibility of acting responsibly towards the countries institutions and in the best interests of governing for the common good, now and in the future, has made the wise decision to control the mob and stay the course leading up to the preparations for the election, not postponing it, which would leave nothing more than a yawning abyss for the mob and it's leaders to stir up additional trouble with no end in sight. Fortunately Yingluck and the government remain the adults in the room and the only ones with a sensible plan towards navigating a way forward with a fresh election and a commitment to reforms. There is no other responsible plan put forward and everyone involved would be wise to get on board and see it through.

[Spare]

The government clings on to power? You can form your own view. Most intelligent people can see what is going on.

Same same, Mark clinking to power when order the use of live bullet to disperses the protesters that caused 90+ death. You can form your own view. Most intelligent people can see what is going on.

twisting History doesn't make your comment true! It is well known that Abhisit offered elections in 2010. It was the red Shirts who refused this offer. They had every intention of staying to burn Bangkok unless parliament was dissolved.

The reds would have left in a flash if Abihist said in 2010 we stay in government but Thaksin gets amnesty and his money back.

Yingluck can say what she likes but the next Thaksin government will be the same as the last 3 all about a Thaksin amnesty and his return to rule.

Please don't twist history.

Then: Abhisit offered to dissolved the house on condition that . . . . .

Now: Yingluck ALREADY dissolved the house.

[bkkfaranguy]

"Bangkok-based middle class and elite against rural and working-class"

So tired of seeing this lazy cliched copy/paste "journalism". It's certainly not just affluent Bangkok people protesting against the PTP and Shinawatra clan. It's people from many provinces and many walks of life. And please, if anyone is elitist it's the Shinawatra family. By far the richest mob of all, and clearly determined to grab Thailand by the balls through their wealth and influence. Trying to portray the political situation as rich vs. poor is just plain stupid and wrong, and did I mention lazy journalism? The foreign press are especially getting the whole story wrong.

Bangkok elites 55.4 billion USD net wealth, VS Thaksin net Wealth 2.7 billion USD, that is just the top 10 wealthiest Thais, then you start adding up the rest of the elites and there money makes Thaksin look poor compared to them!

Edited December 26, 2013 by bkkfaranguy

[fasteddie]

Good for the government, this reactionary gang of thugs and murderers must not be allowed to disrupt the democratic process.

[Yunla]

If you ever watched Alpine Ibex goats headbutting each other for hours, that is nothing compared to these stubborn greedy politicians over here. At least the goats stop bashing their heads against eachother eventually. No chance of that happening here is there. Sad when we could have goats in charge and they'd probably get more work done.

[blaze]

imagnine that <deleted> Nation stating: "Despite terrorists threats and the murder of police, the Thak Gov't Holds Firm. ' Refuses to give in to murderous fascist mob'.

Edited December 26, 2013 by blaze

[Mackie]

Good for the government, this reactionary gang of thugs and murderers must not be allowed to disrupt the democratic process.

What democratic process? Do you seriously believe any elections in Thailand were democratic? Stop kidding yourself. What is happening these days in Bangkok is exact result of setting red thugs free instead of locking them up for good. As long as you have thugs like Jatuporn and Nattawut occupying public functions instead of being in jail there is no hope for Thailand. Red thugs from 2010 got rewarded for their crimes and terrorism. They set an example that being a thug pays off.