Pro-Thaksin protesters ring Thai Parliament

[Adsos Letter]

Source: AP/Las Vegas Sun

The Associated Press

Sun, Dec 28, 2008 (6:39 p.m.)

Thousands of supporters of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra surrounded Thailand's Parliament on Monday, daring lawmakers to pass through their ranks to deliver a speech outlining the new government's key policies.

"If they (lawmakers) want to go in, they have to walk through us, including the prime minister," one of the protest leaders, Chatuporn Prompan, told reporters outside the Parliament compound where demonstrators spent the night.

The demonstration sparked fears of renewed political turbulence, which paralyzed the previous government for months and climaxed with an eight-day seizure of Bangkok's airports. But the earlier protesters had been part of an anti-Thaksin alliance.

The current protest group _ which calls itself the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship _ is trying to put pressure on the government to dissolve the legislature and call fresh elections.



Read more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/dec/28/pro-thaksin-protesters-ring-thai-parliament/

[babylonsister]

1. Ugh. I like a little civil disobedience, but I am not well versed on

Thai politics. Who's winning?

[Adsos Letter]

2. Hey-de-hey babylonsister!

Here is a link to a site that explains things in greater detail:

"Demonstration delays launch of new Thai cabinet"

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/248087,demonstration-delays-launch-of-new-thai-cabinet.html

[babylonsister]

3. Thanks kindly, and bookmarking. Hope you are enjoying your

reading! I can't read this now; I have a mid-east disaster to attend to. :)

[Adsos Letter]

6. I am taking a break from the books between Christmas and New Years...

:hi: :hug:

[rpannier]

4. One person to watch in this whole affair is The King

He is immensely popular in both the urban and rural areas.

When I was in Thailand two years ago I took the Death Bridge Tour and the Tiger Temple Tour which are well outside Bangkok.
Most of the houses had their Buddhist shrines and next to them a shrine to the King.
Both of my drivers had a picture of the king on the dashboard of their van.

Speaking ill of the aged Monarch will likely get you the worst "ass-kicking" of your life by anyone within earshot.

The king and his wife have done many good things for the country, while attempting to stay out of much of the day-to-day political dealings in the country.

[paulk]

5. the King has already taken sides

the colors the protesters wear is significant - yellow is the royal color. The anti-Thaksin protesters are called "yellow shirts" - the pro-Thaksin forces are called "red shirts".

The King's influence may be diminished due to his poor health, however. There is a behind the scenes battle going on between his heirs - the Crown Prince supports Thaksin and the Crown Princess is anti-Thaksin.