Thailand braces for shutdown of Bangkok

Thailand braced itself for a "shutdown" of the capital today as the leader of a movement trying to topple the government of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra rejected any prospect of a compromise over its bid to shut down Bangkok.

The government said it would deploy 10,000 police to maintain law and order at seven key intersections in the city, along with 8,000 soldiers who will be used mainly to protect government buildings.

The unrest is playing havoc with tourist arrivals – many hotels in downtown Bangkok are holding special lockdown parties to try and keep tourists’ spirits up. It has also delayed the start of infrastructure projects intended to keep the economy growing.

The prospect of traffic chaos in a city well known for its busy intersections and heavy circulation was frustrating for many Thais.

Street battles
In the protests so far, demonstrators have staged street battles with police, cut off water and electricity to national police headquarters, and occupied the compounds of several other government leaders.

The shutdown is the latest chapter in an eight-year conflict that has ebbed and flowed since Ms Yingluck’s brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, was ousted as prime minister by a military coup in 2006.

The US embassy issued a tweet advising its citizens to stock up with two weeks’ supply of food and water and to keep plenty of cash ready.

However, there were few signs of panic buying in Bangkok at the weekend.

Ms Yingluck’s supporters pledged their strong support, but they are mostly based in the north and rural areas.

There is speculation that the election could be rescheduled for May 4th, which meets various constitutional requirements.

It is still not clear how exactly anti-government protesters led by the former deputy leader of the Democrat Party, Suthep Thaugsuban, plans to shut down a city of 10 million people without staging a military operation.

Ms Yingluck’s Puea Thai party, which represents mostly the rural population and the urban poor, won the election by a landslide in 2011. Parliament has been dissolved and she has called an election for February 2nd, one she would most likely win by a significant margin.

However, protesters are demanding that her government step down immediately.

Eight people, including two police officers, have been killed and scores injured in violence between protesters, police and government supporters in the past few weeks, although the violence has been less intense than in 2010, when the army intervened to crush a protest by red-shirted supporters of Mr Thaksin.

Mr Suthep is currently facing murder charges for his role in the bloody crackdown, which left 92 people dead.

Gunmen
Police said seven people were wounded in the early hours of Saturday when gunmen on motorcycles fired at protesters in central Bangkok near the Khao San Road area, an area popular with tourists.

There were fears that the army might again intervene and stage what would be the 19th coup in 81 years of democracy in Thailand, although the military has been careful to keep a low profile this time.

However, head of the army, Prayuth Chan-ocha, said on Saturday he feared an escalation in violence.

“I want to tell all sides they must not clash with each other. We are all Thais and can live together despite our differences,” he said.

Mr Suthep has ruled out talks with the government although he said he would stand down if civil war became a threat.