Tides Turning to Opposition’s Favor in Thailand

Posted on Apr 12, 2010

Wikimedia Commons / World Economic Forum

Over and out?: Thailand’s PM Abhisit Vejjajiva may be losing ground.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s days in office may be numbered. After last weekend’s bloody clash between red-shirted protesters and government forces in Bangkok, Vejjajiva was dealt two big tactical blows Monday that could lead to his party’s dissolution.  —KA

The New York Times:

Two days after repulsing a blood-soaked military crackdown, the protesters cheered jubilantly at the announcement that Thailand’s election commission had recommended that the party of the prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva be disbanded on charges of receiving an illegal donation.

“This government’s time in power is nearly over,” Veera Musikapong, a protest leader, said to throngs of protesters in the commercial heart of the city. Mr. Veera and other opposition figures said they would maintain their demonstrations to press Mr. Abhisit to resign.

The announcement by the election commission came hours after the head of the army, Gen. Anupong Paochinda, appeared to rule out further military action to remove protesters, saying, “The situation requires that the problem be solved by politics.”

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