Opposition may boycott Thai election; demonstrators want Thaksin out
{{date|February 26, 2006}}
[[Image:Thaksin.jpg|left|thumb|130px|Thai Prime Minister [[w:Thaksin Shinawatra|Thaksin Shinawatra]]]]
Having outlined his manifesto in his last pre-election radio broadcast, beleaguered [[Thailand|Thai]] Prime Minister [[w:Thaksin Shinawatra|Thaksin Shinawatra]] has failed to deflect calls for his resignation.

Offering an increased minimum wage, additional debt relief for farmers, and pay rises for civil servants the PM starts the election campaign with his [[w:Thai Rak Thai|Thai Loves Thais]] (''Phak Thai Rak Thai'') party in good shape for the snap election announced last Friday.

Thaksin's dissolution of the lower house of parliament, and move to re-establish his authority through elections has met with criticism from leaders in the troubled southern provinces as well as from political opponents.  Zafi-in Jae-loh, the deputy chairman of Narathiwat Islamic Committee said the move would do nothing to help the situation faced by ethnic Malay Muslims in the south.  The three southernmost provinces, [[w:Narathiwat Province|Narathiwat]], [[w:Pattani Province|Pattani]], and [[w:Yala Province|Yala]] face near-daily bombings and shootings with a considerable armed forces presence contributing to tensions in the area.

Opposition parties concerned that the three years early election will not resolve the current political situation have announced that they may boycott the April 2 poll.  The [[w:Democrat Party (Thailand)|Democrats]] (''Phak Prachatipat'') and the smaller [[w:Mahachon Party|Great People's Party]] (''Phak Mahachon'') took over 25% of the vote in the February 2005 elections. Third placed at the last election with 11.4% of the vote, the [[w:Chart Thai Party|Thai Nation Party]] (''Phak Chart Thai'') have yet to announce their decision, leaving party leader Banharn Silapa-archa to decide.

Despite the upcoming election, and in the face of rumours of violence, a mass protest against the Prime Minister still went ahead.  The People’s Alliance for Democracy was reported to be monitoring a crowd they were suspicious of ahead of the rally in Sanam Luang, Bangkok.  However the main rally went off peacefully.  Noon saw the arrival of former politician Chamlong Srimuang with the Santi Asoke Buddhist sect, including barefoot monks and nuns.  Reports indicated that the total number in attendance and supporting the call for the now-caretaker Prime Minister to go were in the tens of thousands.  Many protesters vowed to stay overnight.  Alluding to past protests that had toppled Thai governments, Chamlong said "We can eat anything, sleep anywhere. Tonight we will sleep here".  Anti-Thaksin banners displayed at the open-air rally stated that the he had "No right to rule", while others read "Thaksin=Toxin" below an image aimed at comparing the PM with Adolf Hitler.

Calls for the PM to go have a long history, with his policy of pursuing his opponents through the courts drawing the attention of the King, thus leading to Thaksin dropping cases against media firebrand, [[w:Sondhi Limthongkul|Sondhi Limthongkul]].  A challenge through the country's Constitutional Court was brought by 28 of the country's senators following the PM's family selling their 49% share in [[w:Shin Corporation|Shin Corporation]] tax-free.  The sale, to [[w:Temasek Holdings|Temasek Holdings]], was widely seen as allowing control of key telecoms infrastructure to pass into foreign hands.  [[Wikipedia]] describes Temasek as, "the investment arm of the Singapore government."

==Related news==
*{{wikinews|title=Thai snap-election set for April 2, 2006|date=February 24, 2006}}
*{{wikinews|title=Leader of 1992 pro-democracy uprising joins calls for Thaksin's resignation|date=February 20, 2006}}
*{{wikinews|title=Thaksin escapes Constitutional Court scrutiny|date=February 16, 2006}}
*{{wikinews|title=Sondhi may face legal action from Thai Rak Thai party|date=February 12, 2006}}

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/02/26/headlines/headlines_20001597.php
|title=From Royal Plaza to Sanam Luang
|author=
|pub=The Nation (Thailand)
|date=February 27, 2006}} <small>''(Thai local time)''</small>
*{{source|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/specials/sondhirally3/
|title=Anti-Thaksin rally Round 3
|author=
|pub=The Nation (Thailand)
|date=February 26, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4749784.stm
|title=Thai premier unveils new policies
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=February 26, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.bangkokpost.co.th/News/26Feb2006_news01.php
|title=Opposition to boycott election
|author=Post reporters
|pub=Bangkok Post
|date=February 26, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.manager.co.th/IHT/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000026243
|title=TRT won't be cowed by opposition boycott
|author=ThaiDay
|pub=Manager Online
|date=February 26, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.manager.co.th/IHT/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000026381
|title=Alliance wary of potential troublemakers
|author=ThaiDay
|pub=Manager Online
|date=February 26, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.bangkokpost.co.th/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=81896
|title=Sanam Luang rally attracts huge crowd
|author=
|pub=Bangkok Post
|date=February 26, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.bangkokpost.co.th/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=81898
|title=Protesters vow a sleep-in demonstration
|author=
|pub=Bangkok Post
|date=February 26, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=6947
|title=Narathiwat Muslim leader:Dissolving House won't solve violence
|author=Thai News Agency
|pub=MCOT
|date=February 25, 2006}}

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{{archived}}

[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Thailand]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Elections]]
[[Category:Economy and business]]
[[Category:Brian McNeil (Wikinewsie)]]

[[de:Thailand: Vorgezogene Neuwahlen am 2. April – Massenproteste gehen weiter]]
Thaksin Shinawatra
Having outlined his manifesto in his last pre-election radio broadcast, beleaguered Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has failed to deflect calls for his resignation.

Offering an increased minimum wage, additional debt relief for farmers, and pay rises for civil servants the PM starts the election campaign with his Thai Loves Thais (Phak Thai Rak Thai) party in good shape for the snap election announced last Friday.

Thaksin's dissolution of the lower house of parliament, and move to re-establish his authority through elections has met with criticism from leaders in the troubled southern provinces as well as from political opponents.  Zafi-in Jae-loh, the deputy chairman of Narathiwat Islamic Committee said the move would do nothing to help the situation faced by ethnic Malay Muslims in the south.  The three southernmost provinces, Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala face near-daily bombings and shootings with a considerable armed forces presence contributing to tensions in the area.

Opposition parties concerned that the three years early election will not resolve the current political situation have announced that they may boycott the April 2 poll.  The Democrats (Phak Prachatipat) and the smaller Great People's Party (Phak Mahachon) took over 25% of the vote in the February 2005 elections. Third placed at the last election with 11.4% of the vote, the Thai Nation Party (Phak Chart Thai) have yet to announce their decision, leaving party leader Banharn Silapa-archa to decide.

Despite the upcoming election, and in the face of rumours of violence, a mass protest against the Prime Minister still went ahead.  The People’s Alliance for Democracy was reported to be monitoring a crowd they were suspicious of ahead of the rally in Sanam Luang, Bangkok.  However the main rally went off peacefully.  Noon saw the arrival of former politician Chamlong Srimuang with the Santi Asoke Buddhist sect, including barefoot monks and nuns.  Reports indicated that the total number in attendance and supporting the call for the now-caretaker Prime Minister to go were in the tens of thousands.  Many protesters vowed to stay overnight.  Alluding to past protests that had toppled Thai governments, Chamlong said "We can eat anything, sleep anywhere. Tonight we will sleep here".  Anti-Thaksin banners displayed at the open-air rally stated that the he had "No right to rule", while others read "Thaksin=Toxin" below an image aimed at comparing the PM with Adolf Hitler.

Calls for the PM to go have a long history, with his policy of pursuing his opponents through the courts drawing the attention of the King, thus leading to Thaksin dropping cases against media firebrand, Sondhi Limthongkul.  A challenge through the country's Constitutional Court was brought by 28 of the country's senators following the PM's family selling their 49% share in Shin Corporation tax-free.  The sale, to Temasek Holdings, was widely seen as allowing control of key telecoms infrastructure to pass into foreign hands.  Wikipedia describes Temasek as, "the investment arm of the Singapore government."

de:Thailand: Vorgezogene Neuwahlen am 2. April – Massenproteste gehen weiter
Asia Thailand Politics and conflicts Elections Economy and business Brian McNeil (Wikinewsie)