- Anti-government protesters plan to occupy key areas to “shut down” the Thai capital
- They hope to break the political deadlock gripping the country; force Yingluck’s government from office
- Protesters allege Yingluck is a puppet of her brother, former PM Thaksin
- Observers say some Thais are growing wearing of the protests months into the political crisis
(CNN) — Thailand is bracing for a critical showdown, as anti-government protesters vow to occupy key Bangkok locations for a month beginning Monday, in a massive show of political might intended to shut down the capital and force an end to the political deadlock gripping the nation.
1.Why are the protesters demonstrating?
Since the government’s botched attempt to pass a controversial amnesty bill in November, protesters have been taking to the streets and occupying government buildings, calling for an end to the elected government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. They accuse Yingluck of being a puppet of her brother, the ousted prime minister and telecommunications billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra, who was overthrown in a 2006 military coup.
In response to the crisis, Yingluck dissolved parliament on December 9, calling new elections to be held on February 2. But the move failed to mollify protesters, with the opposition Democrat Party, closely aligned with the protest movement, announcing a boycott of the vote.
Led by Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime minister and Democrat MP who resigned his parliamentary seat in November to spearhead the protests, the demonstrators are demanding that no elections be held until major political reforms are implemented.
2.Why are the opposition refusing to participate in the polls?
Protesters contend that Thaksin’s immense fortune has allowed him to warp Thailand’s fragile democracy in his own interests, giving him an unfair advantage and making substantial reform necessary..
Suthep has outlined his preferred vision for the current government to be replaced by an unelected “people’s council,” made up of representatives from various professions and led by a prime minister appointed by the Thai king. The council would be charged with implementing a wide-ranging program of reform, including restructuring the police force and decentralizing power to provincial governors.
But observers say that the Democrats would be unlikely to win anyway against Yingluck’s Pheu Thai party, which commands significant support in the populous rural areas of north and northeast of Thailand. Thaksin-affiliated parties have consistently triumphed in parliamentary elections since 2001.
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