Front pages of the Bangkok Post over the past week #Thailand pic.twitter.com/k7CiYtccBY
— Richard Barrow (@RichardBarrow) December 8, 2013
The opposition Democrat party today said they’re resigning from parliament en masse. As the AP reports:
Thailand’s main opposition party resigned from Parliament on Sunday to protest what it called “the illegitimacy” of a government with which it can no longer work. The move deepens the country’s latest political crisis one day before new street demonstrations that many fear could turn violent.
Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut told The Associated Press his party could not work in the legislature anymore because the body is “no longer accepted by the people.”
Regarding the march tomorrow (Monday), the Bangkok Post says:
All nine major anti-government rallies from various points in Bangkok will move towards one place – Government House – on Monday in what protester leader Suthep Thaugsuban has called the final effort achieve the ultimate goal of uprooting the Thaksin regime.
The protests led by the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) on Monday are intended to wrap up the one-month of demonstrations which began at Samsen railway station before moving to three key areas – Democracy Monument, the Finance Ministry compound and the Government Complex.
PDRC spokesman Akanat Prompan announced on Sunday that they will not intrude on the compound of the Prime Minister’s Office. However, the demonstrators will surround it.
And:
Of the 50 or more groups, nine would be directed by the PDRC – two from the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River and seven from the Bangkok side. All columns, except the one led by PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban, would start to move at 9.39am. The main rally led by Mr Suthep will take off from the Chaeng Wattana government offices complex at 8.29am.
Here’s a security message from the US Embassy in Bangkok:
Domestic political activists in Thailand have announced they intend to hold large demonstrations at several sites throughout Bangkok on Monday, December 9, 2013. These demonstrations may continue in the coming days, including at several Thai government facilities in areas within and outside of Central Bangkok.
Meanwhile, here are some assorted links I suggest checking out:
- After Deadly Unrest, Thailand Calm on King’s Birthday — New York Times
- On Youtube: Video of the king’s speech last week.
- Thaksin Calls Thai Politics ‘Cruel’ As Protesters Get Ready to Rally — Wall Street Journal
- Vote-buying claims nothing but dangerous nonsense — Pasuk Phongpaichit and Chris Baker
- Economic Realignment Fuels Regional Political Divisions in Thailand — New York Times
- Why democracy struggles: Thailand’s elite coup culture (PDF) — Nicholas Farrelly
- Who’s who in Thailand’s anti-government forces? — Aim Sinpeng