Opposition declares election boycott
Since the dissolution of the Lower House, the Democrats have called for the premier's resignation and for constitutional reform. Thaksin Shinawatra has flatly turned down their requests and is pressing ahead alone.
Bangkok (AsiaNews) The Thai parliamentary opposition has declared a total boycott of elections called by Premier Thaksin Shinawatra, slated for 2 April. On Friday, Thaksin "suddenly" dissolved the Lower House of parliament. The leaders of the Democratic Party, of Chart Thai and of Mahachon "reached a common agreement accepting not to field candidates in these elections", Abhisit Vajjajiva, leader of the democrats, told a press conference.
The dissolution of the Lower House follows intensified protests against Premier Thaksin. The a 56-year-old multi-millionaire businessman, who went into politics and was elected for the first time in 2001, is under fire for the transfer of shares in the Shin Corp, the industrial company he founded before entering the political arena and which includes a telecommunications giant. The transaction was valued at 1.9 billion US dollars and was weighed down by heavy charges of public corruption.
Thaksin dissolved the government, saying he was "the victim of a group of dishonest people" who wanted to "make him pay for his successes".
The People's Alliance for Democracy organised a protest near the Emerald Buddha Temple in Bangkok, to call for the resignation of the premier. They said the dissolution of the government was not enough to resolve the political, ethical and moral crisis of the country. More than 100,000 people took part in the peaceful demonstration which lasted through the night.
On Sunday, hundreds of Buddhist monks known as the Dharma Army also held a protest: more than 50,000 people took part. The leader of the monks, Chamlong Srimuang, led a bloody revolt against the military government in 1992.
In Chiengmai, the prime minister's birthplace, 30,000 people were gathered by his sister, Yaowapa Wongsawad and by leaders of the Thai Rak Thai the majority party led by the premier to express backing for Sinewatra.
Before announcing the electoral boycott, the leaders of the opposition called on the government to launch a process to ratify the convention to draft a constitution. This process would be led by a neutral Commission chaired by a judge "outside the political arena". Certain of an absolute majority in the new election, Thaksin Shinawatra turned down the proposal and invited members of the opposition to meet him "to discuss the matter".
The Thai Rak is convinced it can go ahead with the polls even with a boycott looming, given the 377 out of 500 seats it garnered only a year ago: the backing for the premier, according to latest statistics, is still very strong in rural areas, home to 70% of the Thai population.
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21/10/2021 09:57
