Anti-government protesters gesture towards riot police outside the headquarters of the ruling Puea Thai Party of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in Bangkok, Nov. 29, 2013.
BANGKOK — More than 1,000 opposition protesters have broken into army headquarters in the Thai capital of Bangkok, the latest escalation in demonstrations seeking to oust Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Military officials say the protesters forced their way into the army compound Friday, demanding that the military join their fight to bring down the government.
Anti-government demonstrations by tens of thousands of people continue on the streets of Bangkok. Leaders of the movement say they will keep protesting and occupying government ministries until the country’s prime minister steps down. Security forces this week have not intervened to bar the demonstrators from seizing government buildings and camping out in front of them.
The target of the demonstrators’ wrath is prime minister Yingluck, who easily survived a parliamentary no-confidence vote Thursday. Her brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra also remains a magnet for controversy.
Many protestors believe Thaksin still runs things here despite the billionaire’s ouster in a 2006 military coup. In self-imposed exile, he faces jail time for corruption convictions should he return home.
So far, the military, which has staged 18 coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932, is showing no sign of intervening.
In front of the U.S. Embassy Friday, former finance minister Korn Chatikavanji spoke to protestors as a letter was delivered to the American mission asserting the prime minister’s lack of legitimacy to lead.
Korn, atop a loudspeaker truck, shouts that they have come to tell the American people what they are doing and all gathered here agree with the contents of the submitted letter.
The U.S. State Department has referred to the seizure of property and the potential of violence here as “not acceptable means of resolving political differences.”
Among the thousands joining the protest in front of the embassy, life insurance company employee Patthanapong Yamngarmlua.
“We don＇t like this government. We need them to get out of this country," said Patthanapong. "And, of course, including their family, also.”
Yingluck has been prime minister since her PueaThai party’s landslide election victory in 2011.
At the forefront of the opposition to her and her brother is former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban.
He wants a “people’s council” established to select a new prime minister and enhancing the power of the monarchy, headed by the country’s ailing 85-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
A travel agency employee, identifying herself only as Sivaporn, agrees with those goals.
She says she does not know whether the movement will lead to change but everyone is giving their utmost every day and that is the best they can do.
While the anti-government demonstrations resemble more of a festival than a revolution, there are concerns that the mood could quickly change. |
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