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THAILAND: Situation very tense in wake of recent demonstrations

16th March 2010

Following recent street protests in Thailand's capital city, Bangkok, by opposition 'red shirt' demonstrators, Thailand's Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, has rejected their demand for him to resign and call elections.

Tens of thousands of protesters have called for an immediate dissolution of the House of Representatives and for fresh elections to be held.

At the heart of the protest is that Mr. Abhisit allegedly came to power over a year ago without a popular mandate in his own favour. This week's protests, like earlier demonstrations against the Prime Minister's continuance in office, have been organised by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship.

This opposition front consists of a diverse mix of interest groups, who support former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. Mr. Thaksin was ousted in a bloodless military coup in 2006 and is now living in self-imposed exile.

Referring to the protestors' 24-hour ultimatum for the dissolution of the House of Representatives, Mr. Abhisit has said that all the coalition partners in the government agree that this could not be done.

The reality is that there's impasse between the government and the protestors. As a consequence, tensions are rising along with the fear that violence may follow.

Rev Sayam Muangsak, General Secretary of the Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT), our partner church, writes:
"As you will be aware Thailand has been faced with some very tense political situations leading up to and following the military coup in September 2006. Our society is presently marked by divisions and mistrust of one group against another.
People display their allegiances by wearing different coloured shirts and lambasting each other in the media. As I write the capital, Bangkok, has been hit by a wave of demonstrations over this last weekend by the 'red-shirt' faction, supporters of the former Prime minister Taksin Shinawatra and opponents of the present government and the so-called 'elite' whom they allege have illegitimately installed the present regime.
At the moment the government and the red-shirts have reached an impasse and the tension is escalating. Please pray for us, that people will remain calm and a peaceful and just solution will be found to the present conflict. Pray also for long term reconciliation, that our nation once again will be united for the common good."