"Thousands protest in streets of Bangkok; Call for ouster of government" by Seth Mydans, New York Times News Service | August 27, 2008
BANGKOK - Thousands of antigovernment demonstrators besieged government offices yesterday and briefly shut down a television station in some of the most aggressive actions in months of street protests.
Organizers called it their final war in an effort to oust the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, whom they accuse of corruption and of being a proxy for the former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.
An estimated 30,000 protesters gathered outside several government ministries and entered the grounds of the prime minister's office. To avoid them, he moved a scheduled Cabinet meeting to the military headquarters. Protesters often gather outside the building, called Government House, but rarely enter the grounds. The crowd, which did not attempt to enter the building, appeared peaceful, television footage showed.
Only way to be, man!
Samak said he would not be provoked and would continue to take a soft line with the protesters. Continuing protests by the same group, the
Thaksin is in London, where he fled 10 days ago from Beijing, to evade prosecution in Thailand for corruption cases. He is reported to have asked for political asylum together with his wife, Pojaman.
See: Britain Grants Asylum to Thai Terrorist
The couple left Thailand after Pojaman was sentenced July 31 to three years in jail for tax evasion. After attending the Olympics in Beijing, they failed to return home for a scheduled court date.
The Peoples Alliance a loose grouping of prodemocracy advocates, anti-Thaksin forces and others with personal political agendas has accused Samak and his party of trying to amend the Constitution to help Thaksin evade the corruption charges. The government was elected in December, ending more than a year of military rule. A shaky, fragmented six-party coalition, it is led by Thaksin's associates and is said to be following his directions.
The demonstrations appeared to be aimed at creating a chaotic situation that could provoke a violent crackdown and lead to turmoil and possibly strong military action.
And CUI BONO?
Well, at least I know the demonstrators are not being backed by the U.S.; otherwise, the jewpress wouldn't have inserted this slander!
So it was a show coup with the U.S. flunkies still in charge, huh?
And the Thai people didn't buy it! They SMARTER than AmeriKans!!!
Anupong Paochinda, the army chief general who was one of the leaders of the coup in 2006, asserted that the military would not intervene. "The army will not launch a coup," he said. "The people can be assured. This is the police's job."
I don't know what that means now.
