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Thai protesters blockade Bangkok streets and vow 'no compromise'
Thai protesters blockade Bangkok streets and vow 'no compromise'
(about 5 hours later)
Thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Bangkok on Monday in their latest push to oust the government, closing down major intersections and blockading avenues through the centre of the city.
Thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Bangkok on Monday in their push to oust the government, closing down major intersections and blockading avenues through the city centre.
"This is the only way to force the government out," said Ban Jon, 52, a durian fruit farmer who had travelled 120 miles in a convoy to the Thai capital, where he planned to sleep on the street "for as long as it takes".
"This is the only way to force the government out," said Ban Jon, 52, a durian fruit farmer who had travelled 120 miles in a convoy to the Thai capital, where he planned to sleep on the street "for as long as it takes". "When you compare governments [in Thailand], yes, they are all corrupt, but this one is the worst. We deserve a government that treats us more responsibly," he said.
"When you compare governments [in Thailand], yes, they are all corrupt, but this one is the worst. We deserve a government that treats us more responsibly," he said.
Led by Suthep Thaugsuban, a career politician who stepped down as an MP to campaign against the prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, the protesters are calling for an end to so-called money politics and corruption and the establishment of a new government free from the influence of the Shinawatra family.
Led by Suthep Thaugsuban, a career politician who stepped down as an MP to campaign against the prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, the protesters are calling for an end to so-called money politics and corruption and the establishment of a new government free from the influence of the Shinawatra family.
Yingluck's brother, Thaksin, was ousted as prime minister by a military coup in 2006 but is widely believed to be pulling the strings from his self-imposed exile in Dubai.
Yingluck's brother, Thaksin, was ousted as prime minister in a military coup in 2006 but is widely believed to be pulling the strings from Dubai.
Protesters have been calling for Yingluck's resignation since November when her Pheu Thai party tried to push through a late-night amnesty bill that would have allowed for the return of her much-maligned brother. At least eight people have been killed during the protests, with seven injured over the weekend.
Protesters have been demanding Yingluck's resignation since November, when her Pheu Thai party tried to push through a late-night amnesty bill that would have allowed for the return of her much-maligned brother. At least eight people have been killed in protests, with seven injured at the weekend.
Analysts have raised concerns over a possible intervention by the military, with the army chief recently refusing to rule it out. But on Monday the protests were peaceful and festive, with singalongs and the sharing of food and drink.
Analysts have raised concerns over a possible intervention by the military, with the army chief recently refusing to rule it out. But on Monday the protests were peaceful and festive, with singalongs and the sharing of food and drink. The protesters range from academics and businessmen to students, farmers and entrepreneurs, many of whom had travelled from provinces across the country. They were joined by celebrities and musicians who took to stages at seven main rally sites to keep up the energy under the January sun.
The protesters range from academics and businessmen to students, farmers and entrepreneurs, many of whom had travelled from provinces across the country. They were joined by celebrities and musicians who took to stages at seven main rally sites to keep up the energy under the January sun.
Those at Asok, one of the larger sites, in downtown Bangkok, were surprised to see Srivara Issara, 59, a property mogul worth an estimated £20m, who led the crowd in Buddhist meditation and prayer.
Those at Asok, one of the larger sites, in downtown Bangkok, were surprised to see Sivara Issara, 59, a property mogul worth an estimated £20m, who led the crowd in a Buddhist meditation and prayer.
The protests are thought to have affected 1.2 million people and are costing the government roughly £19m a day, with schools, universities and many businesses closed.
With her shaved head and traditional Thai dress, Sivara is perhaps the unlikeliest face to represent the protesters, whose backing group – the People's Democratic Reform Committee – has been described as a largely urban and elite group fighting to derail a democratically elected government and install in its place an unelected people's council comprising "good people".
"I am in a really dangerous situation," Sivara told the Guardian backstage. "The government could blacklist me and freeze [my assets], as it has done with others who have spoken out. But this is a bad and dangerous time for the country and I don't want it to continue.
"[We are at a point where] even if a dog or a cat were to lead us, we would follow, because we can't accept this any more," she added. "I will fight until I die."
The protests are thought to have affected 1.2 million people and are costing the government roughly 1bn baht (£19m) a day, with schools, universities and many businesses closed.
From emergency offices set up in the north of the city – her own office is besieged by protesters – Yingluck proposed discussing with her opponents the postponement of a snap election scheduled for 2 February, which the opposition Democrat party has said it will boycott.
But Suthep, who received a rock star reception at rally sites across the city, told the crowds there would be "no negotiation, no compromise" with the government, and the protests would continue until Yingluck had been wrested from power.
"There is no win-win here," he said. "Millions of people have come out over the past two months – they don't want a win-win. We must have only one win."
A few miles down the road at another rally site, Kanoknapha Nopphakoonwong, 28, said corruption, as well as anti-Muslim targeting instigated by Thaksin's government, had brought her to protest against the Shinawatras. "We're living in a new generation of politicians who are able to do better than them," she said, sporting a headscarf in the colours of the Thai flag. "Although, anyone, I think, would do better."
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