BANGKOK, Feb 10 – A new government may have come to power in Thailand but street protests in Bangkok continue.
On Jan 31, more than 30,000 of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra’s loyalists, dressed in red, gathered for a rally in the capital. They marched to Government House to hand over their demands to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva: fire Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, prosecute the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) for closing the airports last November, and call fresh elections.
Some Thais feared that the “red shirts” would seize Government House, as anti-Thaksin protesters did last year. But the rally leaders promised not to use violence to achieve their objectives.
Although the red shirts have continued their crusade against the government, Thai politics has been relatively calm since the beginning of the new year. This is partly because the widening effects of the global recession have diverted attention from political issues. If the Abhisit government can prove itself in this time of economic hardship, it will stand a good chance of remaining in power.
Abhisit has adopted three main strategies to stabilise the political situation.
First, he has attempted to further isolate Thaksin, who has vowed to fight to restore democracy in a country that he feels is run by aristocrats.
While attending the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, Abhisit blamed the former prime minister for holding the country back.
“You can never underestimate somebody with that amount of money,” he said. “But the fact of the matter is that the majority of Thai people want the country to move on. Why should we be held up by one man?”
He added that Thaksin supporters had been lobbying embassies of Asean countries in Bangkok, urging them not to attend the Asean summit scheduled to be held in Hua Hin at the end of this month.
Second, the government has taken it upon itself to safeguard the status of the monarchy. Harsher punishments are being handed out to those deemed guilty of lese majeste, including leading politicians and scholars who regard this law as a weapon to get rid of the state’s opponents.
An Australian was sentenced last month to three years in jail for insulting the royal family in a novel.
It is in the government’s interests to present itself as a protector of the monarchy, especially since it sees its political power as highly dependent on the well-being of this centuries-old institution.
Abhisit’s third strategy is to rebuild the country’s reputation, particularly as a safe place for investment. While in Davos, he met many heads of state and assured them that Thailand has returned to normal and that its government was serious about boosting the economy.
But Thaksin’s supporters are not leaving the government free to concentrate on the economy. They have trained their sights on the Foreign Minister, who made for an obvious target because of his ties with the PAD.
He is also vulnerable because he heads a ministry that allowed itself to be manipulated by various political factions on issues such as the revocation of Thaksin’s diplomatic passport.
The political tug-of-war is far from over. The Abhisit government is gaining the upper hand because of its increased majority in Parliament and its seriousness in upholding the rule of law and strengthening the economy.
But Thaksin, now a fugitive, has declared his willingness to return to the thick of action in Thailand. Last Monday, he made a telephone call to members of the opposition Puea Thai party and said: “I will fight on no matter what happens. I’m ready to be prime minister again if the people support me.”
His red-shirt supporters have set a deadline for Abhisit to meet their demands by Saturday. Falling ironically on Valentine’s Day, it will reveal whether the Prime Minister can cement his authority or if the Thaksin camp still has power to influence Thai politics. – The Straits Times
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