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| Bangkok Protesters Raid Finance Ministry Compound | Bangkok Protesters Raid Finance Ministry Compound |
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| BANGKOK — Anti-government protesters raided the compound of Thailand’s Finance Ministry and entered the grounds of the Foreign Ministry on Monday in the latest escalation of a long-running battle between supporters and opponents of Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionaire former prime minister whose party has a commanding majority in Parliament and determined opponents in Bangkok. | |
| Tens of thousands of protesters, who on Sunday staged one of Thailand’s largest demonstrations in years, split into a dozen groups early on Monday and marched through Bangkok chanting “Get out!” — apparently in reference to Mr. Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, the current prime minister, and to others in Mr. Thaksin’s circle. | |
| The takeover of the Finance Ministry recalled previous protests against Mr. Thaksin and his allies in 2008, when demonstrators occupied and shut down the prime minister’s office and Bangkok’s main international airport. | The takeover of the Finance Ministry recalled previous protests against Mr. Thaksin and his allies in 2008, when demonstrators occupied and shut down the prime minister’s office and Bangkok’s main international airport. |
| Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime minister who is one of the leaders of the protest, led the takeover of the Finance Ministry on Monday, shouting instructions to protesters from atop a large truck. | Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime minister who is one of the leaders of the protest, led the takeover of the Finance Ministry on Monday, shouting instructions to protesters from atop a large truck. |
| “Everyone get in the building!” Mr. Suthep said as his supporters blew ear-piercing whistles. The protesters eventually turned off the ministry’s electricity after he urged them to do so, “so that the police will not receive their daily allowance.” | |
| By late afternoon, protesters could be seen napping and snacking in two of the ministry’s conference rooms. By evening, they were starting to camp out in the courtyard. Riot police officers have been deployed in Bangkok for several weeks, but no officers were visible in the compound. | |
| Mr. Suthep said protesters had chosen to occupy the Finance Ministry because it is at the heart of the government. | Mr. Suthep said protesters had chosen to occupy the Finance Ministry because it is at the heart of the government. |
| “From now on, this government can no longer transfer money,” he said. “Not a single coin will be used by the Thaksin regime anymore.” | “From now on, this government can no longer transfer money,” he said. “Not a single coin will be used by the Thaksin regime anymore.” |
| Later in the day, other protesters had also reached the grounds of the Foreign Ministry but had not entered the main building. There were also plans to stay overnight in the Foreign Ministry’s courtyard, organizers said. | |
| Mr. Suthep has not detailed specific goals for the protest, but he has said he would not be satisfied by the dissolution of Parliament or by the resignation of members of the government led by Ms. Yingluck. | |
| “We will not stop fighting until the Thaksin regime is entirely eradicated from Thailand,” he told the crowd on Sunday. | “We will not stop fighting until the Thaksin regime is entirely eradicated from Thailand,” he told the crowd on Sunday. |
| Mr. Thaksin, who has lived overseas since a conviction for abuse of power in 2008, maintains strong support in the populous northern and northeastern provinces of Thailand. Many analysts, including some of his opponents, say his party, Pheu Thai, would most likely win again if fresh elections were called. | |
| Mr. Thaksin’s opponents say they are concerned that he has accumulated too much power in Thailand and are angry that he appears to be making policy decisions from abroad. | Mr. Thaksin’s opponents say they are concerned that he has accumulated too much power in Thailand and are angry that he appears to be making policy decisions from abroad. |
| The current protests began several weeks ago, in what proved to be a successful effort to force the government to withdraw a wide-reaching amnesty bill that would have eased Mr. Thaksin’s return to Thailand. But to the chagrin of some business associations in the country, which fear economic fallout from the protests, the demonstrations have continued despite the amnesty bill’s defeat. | The current protests began several weeks ago, in what proved to be a successful effort to force the government to withdraw a wide-reaching amnesty bill that would have eased Mr. Thaksin’s return to Thailand. But to the chagrin of some business associations in the country, which fear economic fallout from the protests, the demonstrations have continued despite the amnesty bill’s defeat. |
| Independent analysts have criticized what they say appears to be an open-ended protest. “The protest leaders need to clarify their demands,” Yuttaporn Issarachai, the dean of political science at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, said Monday on Thai television. | Independent analysts have criticized what they say appears to be an open-ended protest. “The protest leaders need to clarify their demands,” Yuttaporn Issarachai, the dean of political science at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, said Monday on Thai television. |
| Mr. Yuttaporn said he worried about the possibility of clashes between rival protesters. Thousands of government supporters have gathered at a sports stadium in Bangkok. | Mr. Yuttaporn said he worried about the possibility of clashes between rival protesters. Thousands of government supporters have gathered at a sports stadium in Bangkok. |
| Mr. Thaksin, who was prime minister from 2001 until the military removed him from power in a coup d'état in 2006, cemented his support in the northern rural areas through policies such as universal health care and microloans to villagers. | Mr. Thaksin, who was prime minister from 2001 until the military removed him from power in a coup d'état in 2006, cemented his support in the northern rural areas through policies such as universal health care and microloans to villagers. |
| Ms. Yingluck has continued to put populist policies in place in her two and a half years in power. Some of those programs have come at great cost to the country’s finances. News services reported Monday that the government was having trouble finding enough buyers for 75 billion baht, or $2.3 billion, in bonds that it needs to sell to finance a program that pays farmers well above market price for rice. | |
Poypiti Amatatham contributed reporting from Bangkok. | Poypiti Amatatham contributed reporting from Bangkok. |