Thai premier in defiant mood
Source: Agencies |
May 16, 2010, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THAILAND'S prime minister struck a defiant tone on national television yesterday, saying his government will not bow to demonstrators demanding his resignation.
Explosions and street fighting have killed 22 people and wounded more than 170 others since the government attempted on Thursday to seal off a 3-square-kilometer zone the Red Shirt protesters have occupied in one of the Bangkok's most upscale areas.
In his first comments since the latest violence, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva defended the army's actions.
"The government must move forward. We cannot retreat because we are doing things that will benefit the entire country," he said.
The plan is "to return normalcy with minimum loss" to the Thai capital, he said.
The problem is some "terrorists" have infiltrated the Red Shirt protesters. "I insist that if we want to see an end to the loss of life, the only way is to have the protesters end their protest," he said.
The demonstrators claim Abhisit's coalition government came to power through manipulation of the courts and the backing of the powerful military, and that it is indifferent to the poor.
The spiraling violence has raised concerns that Thailand, a longtime tourism magnet that promotes its easygoing culture as the "Land of Smiles," is teetering toward instability. The political uncertainty has spooked foreign investors and damaged the tourism industry, which accounts for six percent of the economy.
Fighting spread to several streets leading to the encampment yesterday, and the army set up barricades in an attempt to seal off the area, where all shops, hotels and businesses were closed.
Demonstrators accused government snipers of picking people off with head shots.
Troops have used tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds on demonstrators after they set fire to tires and a police bus on Friday.
The army says it is not shooting to kill, but protesters who dragged three bodies from the city's Victory Monument traffic circle yesterday said snipers had shot all three in the head.
Explosions and street fighting have killed 22 people and wounded more than 170 others since the government attempted on Thursday to seal off a 3-square-kilometer zone the Red Shirt protesters have occupied in one of the Bangkok's most upscale areas.
In his first comments since the latest violence, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva defended the army's actions.
"The government must move forward. We cannot retreat because we are doing things that will benefit the entire country," he said.
The plan is "to return normalcy with minimum loss" to the Thai capital, he said.
The problem is some "terrorists" have infiltrated the Red Shirt protesters. "I insist that if we want to see an end to the loss of life, the only way is to have the protesters end their protest," he said.
The demonstrators claim Abhisit's coalition government came to power through manipulation of the courts and the backing of the powerful military, and that it is indifferent to the poor.
The spiraling violence has raised concerns that Thailand, a longtime tourism magnet that promotes its easygoing culture as the "Land of Smiles," is teetering toward instability. The political uncertainty has spooked foreign investors and damaged the tourism industry, which accounts for six percent of the economy.
Fighting spread to several streets leading to the encampment yesterday, and the army set up barricades in an attempt to seal off the area, where all shops, hotels and businesses were closed.
Demonstrators accused government snipers of picking people off with head shots.
Troops have used tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds on demonstrators after they set fire to tires and a police bus on Friday.
The army says it is not shooting to kill, but protesters who dragged three bodies from the city's Victory Monument traffic circle yesterday said snipers had shot all three in the head.
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