High tension
State of emergency
Violent clashes in Bangkok between pro- and anti-government protestors leave behind one dead. Why is crisis happening? BBC reports.
Sep 2, 2008

Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has declared a state of emergency in the capital Bangkok, after clashes left at least one person dead.

Dozens more were hurt in the fighting early on Tuesday.

The clashes began after supporters of Mr Samak pushed through police lines near Government House, occupied by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

PAD supporters say the government is a front for the exiled former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.

"Because last night there was unrest affecting the peaceful law and order in the country and obstructing the democratic process, the government has declared a state of emergency, which will affect people's individual freedoms," an announcement on state radio said.

The prime minister said that emergency rule would only last for a few days.

Mr Samak put the army commander, General Anupong Paojinda, in charge of enforcing the state of emergency in the capital. He now has special powers to:
- detain and remove people from any location
- deploy troops to help police maintain order
- ban gatherings of more than five people
- impose restrictions on media reports that could "undermine public security".

Troops deployed

Overnight, thousands of PAD supporters took to the streets of Bangkok and forced their way into government buildings.

Mr Samak was initially praised for his restraint in dealing with the protests, but he suddenly found his position weakened on Friday when the police pulled back and the triumphant protest leaders were left in control of the government complex.

The demonstrations in the capital remained relatively peaceful over the weekend, but early on Tuesday violent clashes broke out when hundreds of government supporters marched towards Government House, armed with sticks and clubs.

TV pictures showed a man lying motionless on the ground with a pool of blood around his head as well as dozens of injured afterwards.

Dr Petchpong Kamjornkijjakarn of the Erawan Medical Centre said one person had died from severe head injuries and that four others were in a serious condition, two of whom had gunshot wounds.

At least 31 others are being treated for injuries across the city.

On Monday, public sector unions said they would begin a nationwide strike at 43 state enterprises on Wednesday unless the prime minister stepped down.

The State Enterprise Workers Relations Confederation also threatened to cut off water, electricity and phone service at government offices and disrupt flights.

The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says there appear to be very few ways out of this crisis.

The government retains strong rural support and would probably be re-elected if fresh polls were called - and the PAD does not support such elections, our correspondent says.

Meanwhile, the revered King Bhumibol has also refused to intervene.

The PAD - a loose grouping of royalists, businessmen and the urban middle class - was formed in the months before Mr Thaksin was ousted by a military coup in 2006. He has since fled the country to avoid facing trial over corruption charges.

It has a passionate following in various parts of the country, especially Bangkok, and some powerful backers among the elite.

But it has little support in most of rural Thailand, which voted strongly for Prime Minister Samak, and Mr Thaksin before him.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7592942.stm

Crisis: Questions and Answers
The BBC looks at what lies behind the protests.

Who are the protesters?

The people demonstrating in Bangkok are members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) - a loose grouping of royalists, businessmen and the urban middle class.

They want the government led by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to resign, because they say it is a proxy for ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra's administration.

The PAD loathe Mr Thaksin with a passion, accusing him of corruption and abuse of power.

The same group organised the massive street protests in Bangkok that preceded the 2006 military coup which forced Mr Thaksin into exile.

Why is Mr Thaksin still important?

The billionaire businessman remains banned from politics in Thailand, and is currently in the UK. He flew out of Thailand in early August to avoid corruption charges, when it began to appear as though he could face jail.

But despite the fact he is no longer in the country, the PAD insist he remains the power behind the People Power Party (PPP) - which emerged from the ruins of his banned Thai Rak Thai party to win the most votes in last December's general election.

The PAD argue that the PPP is no more than a front for Mr Thaksin's political ambitions. Many believe he finances the party.

The PAD say that Mr Samak is a puppet and Mr Thaksin is pulling his strings.

Instead, the PAD are seeking a largely appointed parliament and a legalised role for the military as a kind of referee in Thai politics.

Why do the PAD hate Mr Thaksin?

Thai prime ministers never used to last very long or have that much power. But then Mr Thaksin came along and began changing the face of politics.

His populist policies attracted enormous support from rural areas. He was the first prime minister to serve a full term in office and his lawmakers dominated parliament.

Thailand had a new, unorthodox leader - and the old elite felt threatened. Mr Thaksin's power base was too wide, they felt. They accused him of corruption and nepotism.

Some of his detractors also accused him of competing with Thailand's much revered monarch, King Bhumibol, for the heart of the nation - something Mr Thaksin roundly rejects.

Are the public behind the PAD?

Thai society is deeply divided. The rural poor still strongly support Mr Thaksin, and the PPP won by far the most votes in the elections last year.

It is probably fair to say that many of those who backed the PPP did so because they wanted Mr Thaksin - and his populist policies - to return.

Mr Thaksin remains highly unpopular among the urban elite.

However, the current protests are nowhere near the scale of the ones that preceded the coup in September 2006. The protesters are confined to a relatively small area of Bangkok.

Many urbanites - even if they do not like the ruling coalition - are also fed up with months of political instability.

And as food and fuel prices continue to rise, most Thais want a stable government that will tackle the economic issues close to their hearts.

So what now?

Mr Samak says that as a democratically chosen leader - elected in December's polls - he has a mandate to govern.

He says he is independent of Mr Thaksin, and rules out resignation.

Analysts say the military will be reluctant to intervene. The military's attempt to govern Thailand after its September 2006 coup was not seen as a great success, and there is little public appetite for another coup.

While the supporters and detractors of Mr Thaksin and the current government continue to argue their case, many Thais are becoming increasingly unhappy at the long-running instability.

With Mr Thaksin overseas, many will be hoping that the government will just be allowed to get on and govern.

The Bangkok Post described the PAD's move as a "last whistle blow".

If the PAD wanted to bring down the government it should do it in parliament, the "proper democratic place to do it", the daily said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7584005.stm