sgusers5的部落格

Move raises risk of fiercer protests by groups bent on ousting govtTHAILAND'S embattled government will go ahead with a snap election on Feb 2, raising the probability of more aggressive protests by groups intent on derailing it and forcing caretaker premier Yingluck Shinawatra out of office.mini storage"If people don't want this government, they should go out and vote," Ms Yingluck said after meeting 37 political parties. She said all agreed that the election should not be delayed. But neither the opposition Democrat Party nor the anti-government protest movement attended.Yesterday, thousands of anti- government protesters from the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) marched through the upper Sukhumvit-Ekamai area calling for Ms Yingluck to quit.The Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (AeroThai), which controls all air traffic communications, said there would be no disruption to its operations despite threats from an aggressive student group allied with the PDRC.The PDRC has asked the Network of Students and People for the Reform of Thailand, led by Ramkhamhaeng University student union leader Uthai Yodmanee and human rights lawyer Nititorn Lamlua, not to disrupt air traffic. But there has been no assurance by the group - which has also said it may seize the Stock Exchange of Thailand building."We are confident we can continue working; we have three alternative operation sites ready," Ms Duangta Samitsuwan, AeroThai vice-president, told The Straits Times. Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipun said over the phone that if the student network tried to disrupt AeroThai's work, the company's first step would be to negotiate. Unarmed military units were in place in AeroThai's compound, and backup power and locations were ready, he saiself storage.Ms Yingluck said in a Twitter message that she would not resign. "Democracy belongs to the entire Thai people," she said.Last night, a small explosive device was lobbed at the home of Democrat Party leader and former premier Abhisit Vejjajiva, causing no injuries. Mr Abhisit was not at home at the time.PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban threatened last Tuesday to have the prime minister and Cabinet detained and told their families to evacuate "in case of an emergency". The PDRC wants the polls delayed and an unelected "people's council" set up to run the country and institute reforms. It aims to "eradicate" the "Thaksin regime", referring to the political dominance of former premier and Ms Yingluck's brother Thaksin Shinawatra, who is in self-exile abroad. His supporters have rallied in the north and north-east, and even closer to Bangkok but not in the city, to back the Feb 2 polls. Anger on both sides is high.The stock market's turnover yesterday was a sizeable 35.37 billion baht (S$1.37 billion), but the composite index ended down 18.84 points or 1.45 per cent, to 1,277.03 points, ending gains on Monday and Tuesday.The election may still be derailed by legal challenges or fierce protests, said Chulalongkorn University political science professor Pitch Pongsawat. "The good thing is that the military has stayed out of it so far. But the PDRC will try and draw the military in."Political scientist Panitan Wattanayagorn from the same university, once a spokesman for Mr Abhisit, told The Straits Times that "the government is walking into another crisis on Feb 2"."There could be a big confrontation on Feb 2. There are elements in the PDRC who want to push the envelope. It is Mr Suthep's job to keep them in check."nirmal@sph.com.sg迷你倉