protestors

As Thailand's latest political crisis escalates a state of emergency has been declared in Bangkok and its surrounding six provinces in an attempt to restore order to the capital. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency on Sunday after red shirted protesters from the United front for democracy, against dictatorship (UDD) forced the cancellation of the ASEAN+3 summit in Pattaya Saturday. Protests from the group, led by fugitive and exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra have turned ugly after a mob of 10,000 stormed the Royal Cliff Beach Resort in Pattaya amid inadequate police security, forcing the airlift evacuation of heads of state and a major embarrassment for the crisis wracked country. Bangkok remains at risk of violent clashes as the army are now set to be deployed and bring the situation under control. The protests, crucially, have moved from key administrative sites in the Dusit area, into the city proper as they try to block key roads and incite anarchy. They are demanding the government step down, accusing them of being illegitimate, while Thaksin himself is urging a revolution. Several countries have issue travel advisory warnings and tourists are advised to avoid Bangkok for the time being as violent clashes between the army and this group of some 100,000 are anticipated Monday. Until now the government has been reluctant to use the army or heavy handed discipline on the protestors, fearful of losing face and credibility among the general population. Following the Pattaya siege, the current crisis has lurched to an unprecedented level, reminiscent of the airport seizure last year, with mob rule becoming a popular tool for groups to voice dissatisfaction at the current political landscape. With the standoff reaching critical levels uncertainty remains in the capital, and unfolding events there might spill out to Northern and Northeastern provinces, including Chiang Mai. The Southern provinces of Thailand remain peaceful and without risk but transport might be severely disrupted as the crisis unfolds. The present government came to power four months ago after the ruling party was dissolved for vote fraud. MPs from a key factions of the party crossed the floor to help the opposition form a minority led coalition, which the protestors are refusing to acknowledge. Thaksin Shinawatra has been fighting to reverse his corruption convictions, unblock frozen assets and return to power, and has the support of the UDD. No solution seems in sight for the political crisis and it is likely to cost the country a loss of more than 200 billion baht in lost tourism revenue. 2009-04-13T11:14:00+07:00 1221 2009-04-13T11:34:09+07:00 5 true 1221-state-of-emergency-in-bangkok-clashes-expected Andrew

The summit of the ASEAN+3 heads of state has been cancelled after militant protestors stormed the the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, terrorising the delegates and forcing an evacuation by helicopter of the VIPs. A state of emergency had been temporarily declared as the government battles with red shirted members of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (DAAD) that is calling for their resignation. Riot police failed to properly secure the area as a mob of approximately 10,000 massed at the site, threatening to stop the conference and accusing the government of being illegitimate. In a huge embarrassment to the country, the summit was abandoned when the protestors broke through the glass doors of the media centre, creating chaos. The protestors had moved to Pattaya on instructions from leaders, including fugitive ex PM Thaksin Shinawatra after a week of disruptive protests at Government House in Bangkok. it is part of a democratic crisis that follows on from the protest and airport seizure last year. The state of emergency was lifted hours later, after the delegates were airlifted to safety and the prostestors withdrew, claiming 'victory'. By late Saturday evening most of the prostestors had returned to Bangkok and Pattaya had returned to normal. However the situation in Bangkok remains uncertain. Tourists planning visits to the South are not considered at risk, and despite the damage to Pattaya's reputation it has now been left alone in the current crisis, and visitors are unlikely to experience any further inconvenience in the city but transportation might be disrupted to and from the capital if the situation develops further. The crisis stems from the dissolution last year of the ruling party on vote fraud charges. They were seen as allied to ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, disposed in the 2006 coup. After the dissolution the opposition formed a government with a key faction of the previous government who crossed the floor to help form a minority led coalition. The DAAD are unwilling to accept this. 2009-04-11T10:47:00+07:00 1220 2009-04-13T11:13:56+07:00 5 true 1220-pattaya-under-siege-as-asean-summit-cancelled Andrew