Key dates in Thai political crisis - Chrono

[webfact]

Key dates in Thai political crisis - Chrono

BANGKOK, January 30, 2014 (AFP) - Following is a timeline of the main events in Thailand's political crisis since controversial tycoon-turned-politician Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted as premier more than seven years ago:

-- 2006 --
September 19: 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: People Power Party, comprising Thaksin's allies, wins elections and goes on to form a coalition government.

-- 2008 --
May: 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 leave two people dead and nearly 500 wounded. 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 imposed 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: Street clashes between Red Shirt protesters and armed troops leave more than 90 people dead, mostly civilians, in the country's worst civil unrest in decades.

-- 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 as Thailand's first female prime minister.

-- 2012 --
April: Addressing supporters from neighbouring Laos, Thaksin vows to return 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 --
October: Thousands of people join daily rallies in Bangkok against another controversial amnesty bill.

November: Lower house of parliament overwhelmingly passes legislation but the upper house rejects it. Opposition protesters occupy the finance and foreign ministries demanding Yingluck resign.

December: Police use water cannon and tear gas on protesters who storm the government and police headquarters. Opposition lawmakers resign en masse from parliament.

Yingluck calls early elections as demonstrators return to the streets. Opposition announces a poll boycott, saying reforms are needed before the vote is held.

-- 2014 --
January: Tens of thousands of opposition protesters occupy major intersections in the capital in an attempt to "shut down" Bangkok, vowing to stay put until Yingluck quits.

Demonstrators besiege polling stations for advance voting in parts of the country, preventing hundreds of thousands casting ballots.

Government rejects calls for an election delay in response to several bouts of political violence in which at least 10 people have been killed and hundreds injured.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-01-30

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