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Demonstrators still rule in Thai seat of government
Australian News.Net
Sunday 31st August, 2008
Thailand launched a special parliamentary session on Sunday to try to defuse the crisis caused by tens of thousands of people occupying the government's administrative headquarters.
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej agreed to a special joint session of both the lower and upper houses of parliament after police failed to oust the demonstrators.
The PAD's campaign to bring down the Samak government gained momentum Friday when police tried to forcefully remove the protesters from Government House, injuring a score of people with batons.
But the police were forced to retreat, leaving the PAD in control of Thailand's seat of government over the weekend.
The show of police force prompted PAD followers to raid and shut down three popular airports in Phuket, Hat Yai and Krabi, all in southern Thailand.
The airports have now reopened.
The prime minister has made it clear that he will not resign over the protests.
Addressing a weekly television talk show on Sunday morning, he said: "I came to power in accordance with the law. I have done nothing wrong."
Samak, who heads the People Power Party has been told by his coalition partners that they will continue to support him.
The 73-year-old politician was also granted an audience with Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej Saturday evening at the monarch's holiday palace.
While not revealing the content of the talks,
Samak appeared self-confident after the royal audience.
But Samak faces a dilemma in dealing with the PAD, which is openly pro-monarchist, because the military will not use force in disbanding the demonstration.
The PAD is a political movement that was launched to topple former premier Thaksin Shinawatra who was eventually ousted by a military coup Sep 19th, 2006.
Its leaders advocate a return to Thailand's old-style democracy, favouring a lead role of the public service and the military over elected members of parliament.  Email this story to a friend
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