Bangkok Prepares for Anti-Government Showdown
The political situation in Bangkok, which has been boiling under for some weeks, could come to a head tomorrow as anti-government demonstrators prepare to march to Government House. The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) anticipates that 100,000 people will join the march scheduled to begin at 1.p.m. on Friday. Schools in the vicinity of Government House will be closed tomorrow and non-essential government workers are being told to take the day off. It’s being described by some local observers as a make-or-break attempt to bring down Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his government.
PM Samak has promised that that there will be no military force used against the protesters. However, whilst the army might not be used the same promise has not been extended to the police. It seems likely to be a confrontational and potentially very volatile atmosphere. Earlier this week, two small bombs exploded outside the offices of one of the leading PAD figures.
How tomorrow’s protest is handled could have a significant bearing on Samak’s political future. He’s already won a last-minute reprieve from Thailand’s truckers who had been threatening mass blockades in response to rising fuel costs. The government’s decision to help the haulage industry during the current economic difficulties has averted one problem, but there are plenty of other disaffected groups waiting for some assistance from the Thai government.
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