Political Crisis in Thailand –Which way it goes?

Political Crisis in Thailand –Which way it goes?

Thailand has seen for the last one week a serious political turmoil. On August 28 up to 35000 demonstrators stormed a state-run television station besieged at least three ministers and finally invaded the grounds of Government House stepping up a campaign to bring down the present Prime Minister Samak’s administration. The demonstrators remained in the Government House till the sixth day. The Criminal Court has approved arrest warrants for nine people as proposed by the police including five People’s Alliance Democracy leaders. The leaders face four charges among them the most severe is treason. The premier who was working from army headquarters said that his approach would be soft and gentle and that police would simply surround the seat of government until everyone had left. “If we get arrested, please don’t follow us to the detention centre. If you leave the government house that means we have been defeated.” The protest leaders thus boost the morality of the protesters. As riot police moved in leaders of the People’s Alliance for Democracy vowed to stay inside the Government House compound until Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej bows to their demands to step down. “The protest has already developed into a people’s revolution.” I do believe that Samak is going to resign, Protest leader Sondhi Limthongkul commented.

Police have indicated that they will enter the compound to arrest the PAD member but interior Minister Kowit Wattana appeared to be holding out for a peacefully solution. “ I ask the protestors of the PAD to please withdraw from the Government House compound immediately. You can rally somewhere else. Despite government pleas, the threat of arrest and even the onset of a tropical rain storm, protest leaders refused to budge.” If you want to arrest us here, it is the government who must go.” Somsak Kosaisuk told protesters most of whom are wearing yellow shirts to show allegiance to revered King Bhumibal Adulyadej. Correspondents saw hundreds of police some with batons and shields in the enclosure. The security forces appeared relaxed watching the ongoing rally on the manicured lawns of the Government House.

Samak has won praise from Thailand’s often-hostile English language press with a poll published showing nearly 68 percent of Bangkok residents surveyed did not agree with the Government House siege. They have broken the law and it could be a serious setback for them. The government has a lot of options. They have still time on their side. Some political annalists pass their comments in this way. Regular and peaceful demonstration hardly allows and recognizes the siege inside the country’s presidential house. The protest leaders should show their judicious and ingenious way of demonstration which must not cross the democratic norms.

Since taking office, Smak has faced a series of setback. Court decisions forced three top government officials to resign with the ongoing PAD protest have helped send the stock market down nearly 18 percent. The alliance wants to force the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to step down accusing it of corruption and of serving as a proxy for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted in a 2006 coup and faces several corruption cases. After Thaksin was deposed in the bloodless coup, his party was dissolved and he was banned from public office until 2012. But Samak led Thaksin’s political allies to a December 2007 election victory and their assumption of power triggered fears that Thakisn would make a political comeback. Thaksin still remains popular with the country’s rural majority. It is said that he brought a revolutionary change in rural Thailand through various welfare steps for the farmers. But the corruption particularly with Telephone Companies led him face the present exile.. The protesters say that Western-style democracy has allowed corruption to flourish in Thailand.. They want a new government with a parliament in which most of the lawmakers is appointed and only thirty percent elected. Thaksin fled to self-imposed exile in Britain faces an array of corruption charges.

The Chart Thai Party, a key member of Samak’s six-party ruling coalition said it was ready to suggest that Samak step down. Thai parliament convened an emergency meeting on August 31 at the request of Prime Minister who understood and acknowledged that the administration cannot control spiraling anti government protest. Samak’s People’ Power Party said it plans to present a compromise in parliament to appease thousands of protesters who have remained in the President House till sixth day of their siege. Samaks’ six-party coalition government controls more than two-thirds of the seats in 480-seat lower house. The coalition partners also say that the situation is deteriorating and we are thinking of telling the prime mister to decide on the future of the government. But Samak Sundaravej still is adamant not to bow down to public will. The wants to see the last. He says that he can restore law and order to the country despite protests spreading till today after from Bangkok to the regions forcing three airports to close. At a time he angrily said to the protestors, “Who do you want as your next leader? Do you think that somebody will reward you or honour you?”


Bhumibol is a constitutional monarch of Thailand with no formal political role but has repeatedly brought calm in times of turbulence during his 60 years on the throne. Probably this time also he is going to play a heroic role. The country’s influential army commander, General Anupong Paochinda rejected a request by Samak on August 30 to declare a state of emergency Anupong has vowed that they army will not intervene and has called for resolving the crisis by political means. This is indeed a good indication that army does not want to embroil themselves in the political turmoil of the country. They want people’s government .That’s good. It is time for Samak also to honour what people say.


Md. Masum Billah
Programme Manager: Brac Education Programme, PACE
Phone: 9355253 (home), 01714-091431(cell)
Email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com