Opposition to Thai coup simmers, ex-PM in 'safe place

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. PHOTO: REUTERS

BANGKOK: Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was in a “safe place” on Saturday, an aide said, after being held by Thailand’s army following its seizure of power this week, as opposition to the coup grew among her supporters and pro-democracy activists.

The army moved on Thursday after failing to forge a compromise in a power struggle between Yingluck’s populist government and the royalist establishment, which brought months of sometimes violent unrest to Bangkok’s streets.

The military detained Yingluck on Friday when she and 154 other people, mostly political associates, were summoned to an army facility in Bangkok.

A senior officer had told Reuters she could be held for up to a week and Thai media reported she had been taken to an army base in Saraburi province north of Bangkok, but an aide denied that.

“Now she’s in a safe place … She has not been detained in any military camp. That’s all I can say at this moment,” the aide said, declining to be identified.

A source from her Puea Thai Party added: “We can’t say she is absolutely free because there are soldiers in the area, monitoring her.” This source said several former ministers from her cabinet were being held in army facilities in Saraburi, neighbouring Lopburi province or Bangkok.

Army deputy spokesman Winthai Suvaree told a news conference on Saturday that anyone being held would not be detained for more than seven days. He did not mention Yingluck.

Thailand’s political woes are the latest chapter in a nearly decade-long clash between the Bangkok-based establishment and Thaksin Shinawatra, a former telecommunications tycoon who broke the mould of Thai politics with pro-poor policies that won him huge support and repeated electoral victories.

Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup and left the country after a 2008 graft conviction but he remains Thailand’s most influential politician and was the guiding hand behind the government of Yingluck, his sister.
Despite international calls for the restoration of democratic government, Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha has not promised a swift return to civilian rule, insisting there must be broad reforms and stability first.

“We must have economic, social and political reforms before elections,” he told hundreds of civil servants on Friday in his first comments on his plans since the coup.
“If the situation is peaceful, we are ready to return power to the people,” he added. But reforms could take many months and stability could be elusive.

Stirrings of opposition

The military has banned gatherings of more than five people, censored the media and imposed a 10pm to 5am curfew but that has not stopped some people from showing their disapproval.
Around 100 people gathered at a mall and entertainment complex in northern Bangkok on Saturday, holding up handwritten slogans such as “Anti the Coup”.

Police officers tried to move them on but they were shouted down and retreated, a Reuters reporter said.
On Friday afternoon, several hundred people including students had gathered in a central Bangkok shopping district in what appeared to be a spontaneous show of opposition to the takeover rather than support for Thaksin and Yingluck.  They say they will protest each day the military is in power.

Soldiers dispersed that crowd and at least one person was detained, a Reuters witness said.
A small crowd also staged a protest in the northern city of Chiang Mai, Thaksin’s hometown, on Friday, a Reuters witness said.

The real danger for the military would be a sustained mass campaign by Thaksin’s ‘red shirt’ loyalists.
Thaksin’s supporters in his northern and northeastern heartlands have repeatedly said they would act if another pro-Thaksin government was forced from power unconstitutionally.

Thaksin has not commented publicly since the coup. He has lived in exile since 2008 rather than return to Thailand to face a jail sentence for an abuse of power conviction.

Activists say a ‘red shirt’ group is organising a protest in northern Bangkok on Saturday in defiance of martial law. A resolute, well-financed campaign by Thaksin’s red shirts, whose ranks include armed activists, would be a major test for the military.

The use of force to put down protesters could squander any legitimacy the military leaders may have after saying they took power in the first place to end violence and restore order.
A 2010 crackdown on Thaksin’s supporters ended in serious bloodshed and damage to the army’s image. Just over a year latera pro-Thaksin government was back in power after Yingluck’s sweeping election victory. The Tribe Pakistan

Thai army chief calls meeting of political rivals

Thai army chief calls meeting of political rivals

Bangkok (AFP) - Thailand's army chief will chair a meeting on Wednesday between representatives from both sides of the country's bitter political divide, a day after declaring martial law, a military spokeswoman said.

General Prayut Chan-O-Cha called the meeting between top officials of the ruling and opposition parties as well as the election commission, the Senate and the heads of the pro- and anti-government protest camps at the Army Club in Bangkok at 1:30 pm (0630 GMT), the spokeswoman told AFP.

Caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan, who replaced ousted premier Yingluck Shinawatra after a controversial court ruling last week, was also invited, the military later confirmed.
Prayut invoked martial law on Tuesday, saying he had to act because political tensions have spiralled following months of deadly anti-government protests -- a move critics branded a "de facto coup".
He denied it marked a military takeover and had promised he would bring together the antagonists in #Thailand's political conflict for talks on an end to the crisis.

But the dispatch of armed troops to the streets, the shutdown of more than a dozen television stations, and the sweeping powers assumed by the military have sparked international concern over restricted civil liberties in the kingdom.

Thai Military Declaration of Martial Law Creates a Quandary for Washington

A Royal Thai Army Signal Corps soldier awaits orders at an intersection in Bangkok. Source: null0′s flickr photostream, used under a creative commons license.

The Thai military’s imposition of martial law on May 20 in response to six months of political turmoil, and its insistence that it did not stage a coup could create more than a little heartburn in Washington in the weeks ahead. Under U.S. law, certain sanctions kick in if a country receiving military aid suffers a military coup. Exactly what the military intends to do in Thailand probably won’t be known for several days.

A State Department spokesman called on the Thai military to ensure that martial law was only temporary and did not undermine democracy. Spokesperson Jen Psaki said in a statement that “We expect the Army to honor its commitment to make this a temporary action to prevent violence, and not undermine democratic institutions.” She added, “The United States firmly believes all parties must work together to resolve differences through dialogue and find a way forward. This development underscores the need for elections to determine the will of the Thai people.”

Army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha said the military had moved to prevent a worsening of the political conflict in a nation where, since last November, opponents of the populist Pheu Thai government have been protesting on the streets of Bangkok in an effort to topple the government. On the other side, protestors often called Red Shirts have served as staunch supporters of the Pheu Thai government. More than 24 people have been killed since the protests started.

Gen. Prayuth cited a 1914 law, implemented at a time when Thailand still had an absolute monarchy, which gives the military “superior power over the civil authority” to maintain order. Soldiers were stationed at key intersections in Bangkok after the announcement and the military said it had banned 10 partisan cable television channels and would censor any media “detrimental to national security.”

Gen. Prayuth, in briefing the civil service, said the military will deal only with the permanent secretaries (career civil service officials) in the government and not directly with any of the ministers in the Pheu Thai caretaker government. In the near term, the bureaucracy can be expected to slow down decision making because it will fear the risk of reprisals and second guessing when a new government is put in place.

Most analysts and observers believe the military’s move is a tacit coup. The military is ostensibly moving in to avoid clashes and violence, but it appears to be closely coordinated with steps in the Senate to unilaterally move ahead with putting a selected interim government in place to replace the current caretaker government.
In response to the announcement of martial law, the anti-government protest group People’s Democratic Reform Council quickly announced the cancellation of its planned march the following day against the Pheu Thai government, suggesting that the protestors think they are getting what they want – a handpicked interim government.

On the other side, the pro-government Red Shirts vowed to dig in and continue their protests. In response, the military has reportedly encircled the Red Shirts’ protest site. Based on recent history this could be a dangerous situation – in 2010 more than 90 people were killed when the military moved to oust Red Shirt protestors from the streets of Bangkok.

Most observers do not believe the conflict in #Thailand will end any time soon. They see the two main political factions as locked in an existential battle for Thailand’s future, struggling to determine which side will be in charge of key government institutions when the inevitable transition from the current king takes place. The situation will remain unstable for the near term. Neither side will give up their fight. Thailand no longer has its traditional “reset button” – a monarchy willing to step in – as one Thailand expert said in a conference at CSIS last week.

The full implications for U.S. policy probably will not be known for several days and may depend on the next steps taken by the Thai military to control political power. The 1961 Foreign Assistance Act says the United States “restricts assistance to the government of any country whose duly elected head of government is deposed by military coup or decree.” If in the days ahead Washington determines that a coup has taken place in Thailand, the United States will be required to end much of its aid.

Following the last military coup in 2006 which ousted then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the United States froze military aid to Thailand including funds for military sales, training of officers under the International Military Education and Training program, and funding for peacekeeping and counter-terrorism training.
In the midst of the political turmoil, it is important that the United States keeps stressing, particularly in private meetings with military leaders and the two main political factions, the importance of Thailand moving quickly to protect democracy and respect for rule of law, avoid violence, and restore a new government through democratic means.
Source: Cogitasia

In pictures: Thailand comes under martial law

The surprise announcement of the imposition of martial law in Thailand came before dawn - the military said it was necessary to keep the country stable after six months of unrest

The move effectively places the army in charge of public security across the country. Senior soldiers insist however that their actions do not amount to a coup.

Armed troops entered numerous private television stations throughout Bangkok to pass on an appeal to people to stay calm and carry on with their normal working lives.

Most people in Bangkok seemed to respond to the army's move with equanimity, with commuters seen driving and walking to work as usual.

Troops took positions at all key positions in Bangkok, including outside the headquarters of the Royal Thai Police, underneath a picture of King Bhumibol Adulyadej

Thailand's army has staged 11 coups since the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932 - senior generals argue that a 1914 law gives it authority to intervene during times of crisis.

Thailand has been unstable since 2006, when former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was toppled by a military coup after being accused of corruption, abuse of power and disrespect for the king.

--- BBC News

Thailand army declares martial law

Jonathan Head reports from Bangkok on the surprise announcement

The Thai army says that it is imposing martial law amid a political crisis "to preserve law and order".

The surprise announcement also granted the army wide-ranging powers to enforce its decision.
The military insisted that its assumption of responsibility for national security was not a coup.
Martial law comes amid a long-running political crisis, and months of escalating tensions between the government and the opposition.

The chief security advisor to the interim prime minister said the government had not been consulted about the army's decision.

The military said it was taking the dramatic step in the interests of law and order

The move came after six months of anti-government demonstrations aimed at ousting the government

Red shirt supporters of deposed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra have warned of the threat of civil war if power is handed to an unelected leader, as demanded by the opposition

The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says that the sight of troops on the streets is now likely to be much more commonplace

"Everything is normal except the military is responsible for all national security issues," said Paradorn Pattanatabut.

An army spokesman said that the imposition of martial law will have no impact on the caretaker government which remains in office.

The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says that the army's move - which it says is to stop "ill-intentioned groups from using war weapons" - has come as a surprise.

Our correspondent says that the army has made it clear that it is in charge of security and the site of troops on the streets is now likely to be much more commonplace.

Troops have taken steps to stop pro-government red-shirt supporters from gathering at their usual rallying-place outside Bangkok.

The Thai military last took power in 2006.

'No need to panic'

Earlier this month a court ordered Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and several cabinet ministers to step down.

The army has staged at least 11 coups since the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932

Soldiers have taken over television stations.
An announcement on military-run television said that martial law had been imposed "to restore peace and order for people from all sides".

"The public do not need to panic but can still live their lives as normal," the announcement said.
Thailand is mired in political mayhem, with the opposition demanding that power be handed over to an unelected administration charged with rewriting the constitution.
The military statement was signed by army chief Prayuth Chan-Ocha, citing a 1914 law that allows it to intervene during times of crisis.

It said that the move had been taken because mass rallies between political rivals "could impact the country's security and safety".

Censorship of the media has also been ordered by the army in the interests of "national security" and both pro and anti-government protesters have been ordered not to march anywhere in order to prevent clashes.
On Monday acting Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan insisted his government would not resign, resisting pressure from anti-government protesters.

Correspondents say that the deadlock in south-east Asia's second-largest economy has got worse since Ms Yingluck dissolved the lower house of parliament in December and a court ordered her removal and the removal of nine cabinet ministers earlier in May for abuse of power.

The country has been without a properly functioning government since December and has failed to draw up a state budget.

The imposition of martial law could enrage supporters of the government, especially if it is seen as amounting to a coup, correspondents say.

The army has staged at least 11 coups since the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932.
Anti-government protests began in the Thai capital late last year, with demonstrators blockading several parts of the city.

In response, Ms Yingluck called a snap general election in February that her party was widely expected to win. But the protesters disrupted the polls and the election was later annulled.
Ms Yingluck's supporters believe that the courts are biased against her and side with the urban elite at the heart of the protest movement.

Thailand has faced a power struggle since Ms Yingluck's brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, was ousted by the military as prime minister in the 2006 coup.
Source: BBC News

Plane Carrying Laos Defense Minister Crashes, Thais Report

#BANGKOK -- A Laos air force plane believed to be carrying 20 people including the country's defense minister #crashed on Saturday, Thailand's Foreign Ministry said. 

There was no immediate word on casualties, said the Foreign Ministry spokesman, Sek Wannamethee.

He said he was informed of the crash by authorities in neighboring Laos.

He did not immediately have any other details. 

In October, a Lao Airlines ATR-72 turboprop crashed during a heavy storm as it approached Pakse Airport in southern Laos, killing all 49 people on board.

— The Associated Press

Thai election body urges vote delay

Man with a Protest Banner in Bangkok

#Thailand's Election Commission on Thursday called for the postponement of key parliamentary polls due to be held on July 20 because of political unrest shaking the kingdom.

The appeal came after an attack on an anti-government rally in #Bangkok the same day that left three dead.

Hours later opposition demonstrators stormed a meeting between the government and vote officials, forcing caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan and other ministers to flee.

"The election on July 20 is no longer possible. It must be postponed," Election Commission secretary general Puchong Nutrawong told AFP.
He said early August was one option for the polls but "may be too soon".
"The election cannot be held if protesters do not agree," Puchong added.

The dismissal of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra from office last week in a controversial court ruling has sent tensions soaring in the Southeast Asian nation, which has endured years of political turmoil.
Yingluck's supporters have accused the Election Commission of conspiring with the anti-government movement and parts of the judiciary to prevent her party's return to power.

Grenade blasts and gunfire at an anti-government protest site in Bangkok early Thursday left two dead and 24 wounded, stoking fears of wider political violence in the crisis-hit kingdom.
The attack comes as opposition protesters push for the appointment of an unelected premier in a move that has infuriated government supporters.

An election held in February was later annulled after demonstrators blocked voting in many areas.
The opposition refuses to take part in elections unless reforms are held first to tackle what it says is widespread corruption and cronyism.

Thailand has been torn apart by political divisions since 2006 when Yingluck's older brother Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a military coup after frictions with the country's royalist establishment.
Thaksin-led or aligned parties have won every election since 2001, but have also seen four premiers removed by coups or court rulings.
Source: Yahoo News

Deadly attack on Thai protest camp in Bangkok

Protesters cleaned the steps of the Democracy Monument in Bangkok on Thursday morning

Three people have been killed and more than 20 others injured in an attack on an anti-government protest camp in the Thai capital, officials say.

Witnesses reported explosions and gunfire early on Thursday at a protest camp at Bangkok's Democracy Monument.

Protesters have been pressing the Senate to replace the cabinet with an appointed administration.
Later on Thursday, they forced a meeting between the government and the #Election Commission to be abandoned.

The government is trying to organise a new general election in July, after protesters disrupted the previous election in parts of the country.

A crowd led by Suthep Thaugsuban, head of the anti-government movement, broke into the Air Force base where the meeting between acting Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan and the commission was being held.

"The meeting is over, the prime minister is leaving. We cannot continue today," a member of the commission was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.

Power struggle

The attack on protesters comes days after former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was removed by a Thai court.

Protesters have been trying to oust the government since November 2013

Reports said grenades were thrown in the latest attack in the early hours of Thursday, followed by gunfire. A doctor at an emergency centre in Bangkok said the wounded had been hit by shrapnel.

Police identified two of the victims as a protester who was asleep and a protest guard who was shot.
There have been a number of attacks on the protest movement since it began its street campaign against the government last year, says the BBC's South East #Asia correspondent Jonathan Head, but this was on a larger scale than usual.

No group has said it carried out the attack but both pro- and anti-government groups are known to have armed hardliners.

#Thailand has suffered months of deadlock since the protest campaign began in November, with at least 27 people killed and hundreds wounded.

Ms Yingluck - who was removed by the Constitutional Court with several of her ministers last week - was swiftly replaced by the ruling Puea Thai party. Former Commerce Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan is now serving as caretaker prime minister.

The party, which won elections in July 2011, says it will push on with a plan to hold another general election in July.

The protesters say they will obstruct this poll in the same way that they blocked an election held in February that was subsequently annulled by the courts.

Thailand has been in the grip of a power struggle since Ms Yingluck's brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, was ousted by the military as prime minister in a 2006 coup.

Mr Thaksin and his family are hated by an urban and middle-class elite who accuse them of corruption and abuse of power.
But Mr Thaksin's policies won him huge support in rural areas, and both the elections since the coup have returned Thaksin-allied governments to power.

The current anti-government protesters want to replace Ms Yingluck's administration with an unelected "people's council" which, they say, would reform the political system.

Both pro- and anti-government groups have held rallies in Bangkok in recent days, raising fears of further violence.
Source: BBC News

Thai Senate faces protest call : Thailand

The protesters, led by Suthep Thaugsuban, have been trying to fell the government since November

#Protesters in Thailand have called on the Senate to replace the cabinet with an appointed administration.

The protesters, who have been trying to oust the government for six months, are moving their camp close to parliament and say they will act themselves if the Senate does not.
Last week a court removed #PMYingluck Shinawatra and several ministers.
But a caretaker administration from her ruling party remains in place and says it is working towards polls in July.

#Thailand has seen months of deadlock since the protest campaign began in November.
On Sunday regional bloc Asean called for a peaceful resolution to the crisis "through dialogue and in full respect of democratic principles and rule of law".

Senate talks

Over the weekend both pro and anti-government groups rallied in Bangkok, raising fears of violence.

Thailand has faced a power struggle since Ms Yingluck's brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, was ousted by the military as prime minister in a 2006 coup.

Mr Thaksin and his family are hated by an urban and middle-class elite who accuse them of corruption and abuse of power.
But Mr Thaksin's policies won him huge support in rural areas, and both the elections since the coup have returned Thaksin-allied governments to power.
The current anti-government protesters want to replace Ms Yingluck's administration with an unelected "people's council" to reform the political system.

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban over the weekend called on the Senate to consult the presidents of Thailand's top courts and the Election Commission and appoint a new prime minister.
The Senate is due to hold a special meeting on Monday on the crisis.

It remains the only functioning part of parliament after February's snap general election - which the ruling party was expected to win - was disrupted by protesters and subsequently annulled.
Government supporters have warned that any move to replace the current caretaker administration - and its new Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan - could trigger violence.
They are already angered by a court decision last week to remove Ms Yingluck over what it called the illegal transfer of her security chief.

Ms Yingluck's supporters accuse the courts of bias, pointing to previous rulings that have removed Thaksin-allied governments from power. What remains of Ms Yingluck's administration says it will continue to work towards holding a fresh general election on 20 July.
 Source: BBC News

Rebellious launch multiple attacks in Thai south, one dead

#BANGKOK: Suspected Muslim separatists in southern Thailand launched a wave of more than 30 attacks on Monday including shootings, bombings and arson, police said, killing one person and injuring more than 10.
 

Crime Scene Tap by Police in Thailand

#Thailand is predominantly Buddhist but parts of the south, in particular the three southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, are majority #Muslim and decades-old resistance to central government rule resurfaced violently in 2004.

Paradorn Pattanathabutr, a security adviser to the prime minister, said the targets included a shopping mall, which was set on fire, and electricity pylons.
“One woman has died and more than ten others were injured. We believe the perpetrators are rebel Muslim groups trying to recruit more people for their cause,” Paradorn told Reuters.
Police in Narathiwat province, close to Thailand's border with Malaysia, said bomb attacks were carried out at more than 10 locations and a Muslim woman was killed in one blast.

More than 5,700 people have been killed in the south since January 2004 and more than 40 have been killed this year. There are various shadowy rebel factions and their main demand is for greater autonomy for their long-neglected region.

The opening of peace talks with some of the rebels last year has done nothing to end the violence.
Meetings have been postponed and the talks appear to have stalled, with Thailand's caretaker government preoccupied with surviving protests against it in Bangkok.
Source: Dawn News

Thailand’s revolving door elites : PM

Thailand PM

+Zarina Banu - Thailand was plunged into further political chaos on May 7 after its Supreme Court ruled that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had abused her power and so had to step down.
Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan will replace Yingluck. The caretaker government, populated by her allies, says it will press ahead with plans for an election on July 20.
Yingluck’s supporters are calling the Constitutional Court intervention a judicial coup. Nine judges unanimously concluded Yingluck manipulated her position as prime minister when she replaced former security chief, Thawil Pliensri, an opposition favourite, with her brother-in-law. In the eyes of her adversaries, the move smacked of nepotism of the highest order.

Elites in Thailand have historically fought protracted, sometimes violent, battles for control of the state as part of a revolving door power swap. Albeit female, Yingluck is part of this mix of business leaders, bureaucrats and military commanders that have ruled Thailand since a so-called democratic revolution in 1932.
Thailand has had 17 charters or constitutions and 28 prime ministers since that time. Many were army men who reigned for less than 365 days. Nine prime ministers have rotated into power since 2006. More stable democracies like the United States, South Korea and England can claim three leaders in charge at most.
Yingluck herself is a scion of a business dynasty. Her brother is telecoms tycoon turned political populist Thaksin Shinawatra. After five years as prime minister, a military coup ousted Thaksin in 2006 on the grounds of corruption, conflict of interest and authoritarianism.
A messy showdown

This time, two sets of Thai elites are locked into a messy showdown. In one camp resides Bangkok’s wealthier classes and southern supporters. They are establishment and royalist.
In another, more crowded camp, are followers of the Pheu Thai party led by Yingluck.
For now, the Bangkok-based elite has clinched victory. But even recent history shows no Thai prime minister can rest on his, or her, laurels.

Thaksin’s departure both capped a period of political volatility in Thailand and marked the start of another.
After the generals seized control, came food lover Samak Sundaravej, whose appetite for hosting cooking shows while in office landed him in hot water with the Constitutional Court. Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin’s brother-in-law was nominated prime minister, but then fled with his government to Don Muang airport after anti-government protesters besieged the parliament building. Barely three months in office himself, Somchai’s successor lasted just 15 days.

Enter Abhisit Vejjajiva, bringing with him great hopes for steering Thailand onto a stable path. British born and educated at Eton and Oxford, Abhisit was immensely palatable to the West. But his slick persona was badly tarnished after he presided as prime minister over a crackdown on anti-government protesters that killed around 90 people in Bangkok in 2010. Under Yingluck’s reign, Abhisit was formally charged with murder in December 2013.

As leader of the Democrat Party, Abhisit is regaining traction as a force in Thai politics. Despite the indictment for murder, he’s leveraging the political vacuum to rebrand himself as a mediator, devising a plan for reform his enemies say is wildly thin on substance.

Given the current turbulence, outsiders could be forgiven for thinking of Thailand as a political basket case.
Six months of street protests, and a polarising schism resulting in governing gridlock are chipping away at the economy. The International Monetary Fund recently halved its forecast of GDP growth in the country from 5.2 percent to 2.5 percent. The country is in danger of morphing from Southeast Asia’s second largest economy into an economic laggard.

The current fragility is spooking investors and tourists. Foreign and domestic investors have temporarily - and possibly permanently - shelved plans for major infrastructure projects. The relative calm before the departure of Yingluck and nine of her ministers was lifting the spirits of travel operators keen to navigate the industry back on course after months of turmoil. Now a deep gloom will descend over the sector, which accounts for around 6 percent of Thailand’s GDP.

Also of concern is the erosion of Thailand’s political authority in the region. The nation’s economic clout also gave it political legitimacy. It has been a stalwart member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). During Myanmar’s isolation, Thailand adeptly managed a relationship between the military regime, Asean and the rest of the world. New challenges confronting the bloc include territorial disputes with China and Myanmar’s shaky transition to democracy. As Asean gears up to economic integration in 2015, it can’t afford another fragile state weakening its flanks.
Democracy a victim

The quagmire is resulting in two main losers: democracy and the Thai people.
Dissident writer Giles Ungpakorn wrote that Yingluck’s dismissal is, “merely the latest in a long line of military or judicial coups since September 2006 that have sought to reduce the democratic space and disenfranchise the majority of the population”.
In a televised news conference on May 7, Yingluck said, “From now on, no matter what situation I am in, I will walk on the path of democracy. I am sad that I will not be able to serve you after this.”
Yingluck’s enemies label her as a proxy for her controversial brother, who now resides in self-imposed exile in Dubai. Proxy or not, Yingluck’s Pheu Thai party was elected by a landslide victory in 2011. Her brother’s popularity was reflected in electoral victories and his novel cultivation of a public personality. This strategy only played on the insecurities of Bangkok’s establishment, wedging the social groups further apart, according to leading academics, Pasuk Phongpaichit and Chris Baker.
For all their riches, the Shinawatras were elected by popular vote. Analysts predict the next election will propel Pheu Thai back in power.

Underlying the titanic clash between the Pheu Thai Party and its opponents - led by Suthep Thaugsuban - is the question of political legitimacy and moral authority. Who has the right to run Thailand? Kings were forced to relinquish their divine right to rule in 1932. The monarchy remains a central pillar to Thai culture and politics. The majority of Thais revere King Bhumibol Adulyadej. At 86, Bhumibol is the world’s longest reigning monarch and Thais seek solace in him as a steadying force in turbulent times.
Still, the wavering in Thailand among strategic vested groups is crippling the country. The ordinary mass of Thais has been merely caught up between these opposing factions. All said and done, most people just want to go back to work, school and get on with their lives.

The lesson here is that parliamentary democracy and the processes that form its spine have failed in Thailand. That could have potentially explosive results, particularly if the Red Shirts feel locked out of a political system, which they perceive as serving the objectives of their foes.

While the next rocky chapter in the battle for Thailand’s soul might be under way, it’s time that this recurrent cycle of political chess boarding ends. It’s not where Thailand, its people, or its soul, should be heading.
Original Article: The Nation News