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9 Dec 2013

Thai PM calls snap election, but protests continue

Yingluck Shinawatra pledges to call elections after weeks of protest in Bangkok. But an estimated 100,000 people continue with mass demonstrations, with some saying elections are not enough.

The Thai government appealed to huge crowds of protesters to go home on Monday, following the prime minister’s announcement that she will dissolve the lower house of parliament and call elections in an attempt to calm the country’s deepening political crisis.

But most took little notice and an estimated 100,000 people continued to gather at government house, saying that the dissolution and the calling of a general election were not enough.

“Actually this is just another trick, another lie from the government. Because they are still in charge (for) everything in this country,” said Wallop Phuasaphol, a protester on the streets of Bangkok. “They want to control, totally control the next election, which means they are going to go back and corrupt again.”

The protesters came from nine directions to the central meeting point, on what has been designated “D-Day”.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra announced in a nationally televised address that she would request a royal decree to dissolve parliament.

“At this stage, when there are many people opposed to the government from many groups, the best way is to give back the power to the Thai people and hold an election. So the Thai people will decide,” she said.

The election commission would set a date for new elections under her plans, and that she would remain in a caretaker capacity until the election of a new prime minister.

Later, a Thai government spokesman said general elections will be held on 2 February. As a formality, the king must approve the dissolution after which elections must be held within 60 days.

But that was rejected by the protesters who say she has to give up that power too. The protesters accuse Ms Yingluck of serving as a proxy for her brother who lives in self-imposed exile in Dubai to avoid jail time for a corruption conviction he says was politically motivated.

The main opposition party, the Democrats have yet to say whether they will contest the poll, or boycott it, as they have done in the past.

Protesters want a reform of the whole system, rather than elections, and say Ms Yingluck is likely to be voted in again under the current framework.

Yingluck Shinawatra pledges to call elections after weeks of protest in Bangkok. But an estimated 100,000 people continue with mass demonstrations, with some saying elections are not enough. (R)

Photo: a monk blesses anti-government protesters during a rally in Bangkok (R).