UP Ibalon Bicol: Thailand riots bring 2 dead and 70 hurt

Thailand riots bring 2 dead and 70 hurt

4/14/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

The weekend anti-government protests in Pattaya had spread to the capital city of Bangkok leaving 2 people dead and wounding at least 70 people. Demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the rowdy rioters threw improvised gasoline bombs and engaged hundreds of heavily-armed soldiers in a road junction in the city.

Earlier last weekend, protesters successfully disrupted and put the 14th ASEAN summit in Pattaya to a halt. Rioters were able to break the cordon of security, forcing foreign leaders to flee by helicopters. The unrest was aggravated with the arrest of former pop singer Arisman Pongreungrong, who was charged with inciting unrest and attempting to kidnap the prime minister.

Thousands of protesters burned tires and hurled stones and improvised bombs on the streets. To quell the disturbance, Abhisit ordered a state of emergency on Sunday in the Thai capital. Firing shots in the air and using water cannons to disperse the crowd, military officers arrested undetermined number of protesters who are supporters of the ex Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who went on exile after a military coup ousted him in 2006.

“Thailand has had four prime ministers in the past 15 months, none of whom has been able to heal the country's political divisions. The latest factional violence ¬follows warnings from some observers that the country is in danger of slipping into a "mobocracy".

Thailand's political crisis has been escalating since last year amid deep disagreements over what the nature of the political system should be in the aftermath of the 2006 military coup, one of 18 that the country has witnessed since the ended 150 of years of absolute monarchy in 1932.”---Guardian.co.uk (04/13/09, Tran, M & agencies)

Countries including the Philippines, France, Britain, Australia, the United States, South Korea, Russia and Hong Kong called on their respective citizens to avoid traveling to Thailand at this time. Those who are already inside the country are advised to avoid places of protests.

Though Abhisit is confident to restore peace and order, there is little indication that the divisiveness and unrest in the Thailand will be settled in the near future. (Photo Credit: AP/ Wason Wanichakom/ AFP Graphic/ Narong Sangnak/ EPA/ Guardian.co.uk) =0=