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Thai authorities consider state of emergency as protests continue Thai authorities consider state of emergency as protests continue
(35 minutes later)
Thai authorities are "very seriously" considering a state of emergency after a weekend of violence in the capital where protesters have been trying to bring down the government for more than two months, the security chief said on Monday.Thai authorities are "very seriously" considering a state of emergency after a weekend of violence in the capital where protesters have been trying to bring down the government for more than two months, the security chief said on Monday.
The violence is the latest episode in an eight-year conflict that pits Bangkok's middle class and royalist establishment against poorer, mainly rural supporters of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her brother, ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled by the military in 2006.The violence is the latest episode in an eight-year conflict that pits Bangkok's middle class and royalist establishment against poorer, mainly rural supporters of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her brother, ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled by the military in 2006.
"We're prepared to use the emergency decree … Everyone involved, including the police, the military and the government, is considering this option very seriously, but has not yet come to an agreement," national security council chief Paradorn Pattantabutr told Reuters after meeting Yingluck. "We're prepared to use the emergency decree … Everyone involved, including the police, the military and the government, is considering this option very seriously, but has not yet come to an agreement," national security council chief, Paradorn Pattantabutr, told Reuters after meeting Yingluck.
"The protesters have said they will close various government offices. So far, their closures have been symbolic, they go to government offices and then they leave," he said."The protesters have said they will close various government offices. So far, their closures have been symbolic, they go to government offices and then they leave," he said.
"But if their tactics change and they close banks or government offices permanently, then the chance for unrest increases and we will have to invoke this law.""But if their tactics change and they close banks or government offices permanently, then the chance for unrest increases and we will have to invoke this law."
The emergency decree gives security agencies broad powers to impose curfews, detain suspects without charge, censor media, ban political gatherings of more than five people and declare parts of the country off limits.The emergency decree gives security agencies broad powers to impose curfews, detain suspects without charge, censor media, ban political gatherings of more than five people and declare parts of the country off limits.
The size of the demonstrations in Bangkok has declined, but the centre for the administration of peace and order (CAPO) – a body which includes government and security officials – said small protests had spread to 18 other areas. The size of the demonstrations in Bangkok has declined, but the centre for the administration of peace and order (Capo) – a body which includes government and security officials – said small protests had spread to 18 other areas.
"The protesters haven't threatened to shut down government buildings but they are taking their orders from protest leaders in Bangkok so we're keeping an eye on them," CAPO deputy spokesman Anucha Romyanan told Reuters. "The protesters haven't threatened to shut down government buildings but they are taking their orders from protest leaders in Bangkok so we're keeping an eye on them," Capo deputy spokesman Anucha Romyanan told Reuters.
One man was killed and dozens of people were wounded, some seriously, when grenades were thrown at anti-government protesters in the city centre on Friday and Sunday.One man was killed and dozens of people were wounded, some seriously, when grenades were thrown at anti-government protesters in the city centre on Friday and Sunday.
"I think these attacks have been designed to provoke an army reaction," said Paul Chambers, director of research at the Institute of South East Asian Affairs in Chiang Mai, predicting a measured increase in the violence. "I think these attacks have been designed to provoke an army reaction," said Paul Chambers, director of research at the Institute of South-East Asian Affairs in Chiang Mai, predicting a measured increase in the violence.
That in turn could prompt the Election Commission to refuse to oversee a vote called for 2 February, which the main opposition has said it will boycott, he said. That in turn could prompt the election commission to refuse to oversee a vote called for 2 February, which the main opposition has said it will boycott, he said.
The protests, led by opposition firebrand Suthep Thaugsuban, were triggered by Yingluck's move last year to attempt to push through a political amnesty that would have allowed her brother Thaksin to return home.The protests, led by opposition firebrand Suthep Thaugsuban, were triggered by Yingluck's move last year to attempt to push through a political amnesty that would have allowed her brother Thaksin to return home.
The billionaire former telecoms tycoon lives in Dubai to avoid a jail sentence for abuse of power, but is thought to run his sister's government. The protesters want to remove his influence through ill-defined political reforms.The billionaire former telecoms tycoon lives in Dubai to avoid a jail sentence for abuse of power, but is thought to run his sister's government. The protesters want to remove his influence through ill-defined political reforms.