PM declares state of emergency in Bangkok

THAILAND’S PRIME Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency in Bangkok yesterday and gave the army wide-ranging powers to restore order after red-shirted anti-government protesters broke into parliament, forcing some lawmakers to flee by Blackhawk helicopter.

The state of emergency and the escalating protests are the latest evidence of destabilising political unrest in Thailand, which has seen regular disturbances since a 2006 coup that ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The anti-government protesters have staged demonstrations since March 12th in Bangkok during the current bout of protest, bringing chaos to the capital and deeply dividing Thai society.

The red shirts are demanding that Mr Abhisit dissolve the government and call elections within 15 days. He has offered to do so by the end of the year.

Mr Abhisit has always favoured a non-confrontational approach, but the state of emergency marks a more serious state of affairs. A state of emergency gives the military authority to restore order, and allows authorities to suspend certain civil liberties and ban all public gatherings of more than five people.

While the Abhisit government was not elected by popular mandate, Mr Thaksin also favoured anti-democratic measures during his time in power, making it a difficult political situation to read.

It had appeared that Mr Abhisit had managed to overcome the latest challenge to his government after rural supporters of Mr Shinawatra, in their signature red shirts, left the capital after initial demonstrations, only to return soon afterwards. He also recently met opposition leaders, but has dismissed their demands to dissolve his government.

Mr Abhisit interrupted normal TV programming to announce the emergency decree.

“The government has tried its best to enforce the law, but violations of the law have increased,” he said.

“Our main goal is to bring the country back to normal and make our law sacred once again.”

Mr Thaksin, who was elected twice before the coup toppled him from power and who was later sentenced to two years in jail for corruption, fled into exile before he was sentenced and lives mostly in Dubai. His core support is among the rural poor and in the north of the country.

Mr Thaksin’s supporters are most likely to win an election, so Mr Abhisit has refused to step down. He has the backing of the country’s monarchy, the Bangkok elite and the army.

In December 2007, Mr Thaksin’s allies won the first post-coup election, but they too were ousted from power in December 2008 after “yellow shirt” supporters of the current government occupied public buildings and both of Bangkok’s airports, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights.