The peace deal in Thailand is dead. Ten days ago, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva attempted to break the country's political deadlock by announcing an early election date as part of a compromise aimed at ending the occupation of a key commercial district in Bangkok by thousands of anti-government protesters. Today, with the protesters still refusing to leave, Abhisit said an early election is now off the table. "I have cancelled the election date... because protesters refuse to disperse," Prime Minister Abhisit told reporters.
The announcement dashed hopes that the two sides could reach a quick and peaceful end to the two-month old demonstration. The Thai stock market slid three points as soon as the election cancellation was announced. A previous attempt on April 10 to disperse the protesters from a different part of Bangkok failed, as paramilitaries among the protesters fought back against soldiers with grenades and guns. Twenty-nine people were killed, including six soldiers, and over 800 were wounded.
And now they're sending in the military to cordon off the Red Shirts.
The Thai military says security forces plan to surround a protest camp in Bangkok with armoured vehicles.
A spokesman said that routes into the sprawling encampment would be closed at 1800 (1100 GMT). Protesters would be free to leave but not enter, he said.
Shops and businesses have been urged to close and public transport in the area is to be suspended from 1800.
PM Abhisit Vejjajiva is under severe pressure to end the protests, which have paralysed Bangkok since 14 March.
The protesters, known as the red-shirts, want Mr Abhisit to dissolve parliament and call fresh elections.
He had offered polls on 14 November - but the two sides failed to agree a deal because of divisions over who should be held accountable for a deadly crackdown on protests last month.
The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Bangkok says the fear is that more blood might be spilled before this crisis is brought to an end.
It's sounding more and more like Tianenman Square all over again.
By: Brant
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment