Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Search
Search:
Ex-Thai coup leader expects peaceful protests
AFP - Saturday, November 22
BANGKOK (AFP) - - The Thai general who led a 2006 coup against former premier Thaksin Shinawatra said Friday he expected anti-government protests planned for the weekend to pass off without violence.
Sonthi Boonyaratglin warned however that in future there would probably be more attacks like the grenade blast in Bangkok on Thursday that killed one anti-government demonstrator and wounded 29.
A group called the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which has occupied government offices in the capital since August, has called for a blockade of parliament on Sunday following the attack.
"It's unlikely that Sunday's mass protest will turn into violence because that's negative to the government and violence could open other options," he told AFP in an interview.
With speculation about a possible coup still swirling after months of political turmoil, Sonthi said military intervention was unlikely at this stage but he could not rule it out.
"A coup is not the means and it's not possible now," Sonthi told AFP in an interview.
"As matter of fact, there are chances to mount a successful coup and at this time some factors are already there. But many factors are still not yet there, therefore to stage a coup is not easy," he said.
The PAD accuses the government of being a corrupt front for billionaire Thaksin and says it will not end its occupation of Government House until the administration steps down.
Its campaign erupted into violence on October 7 when clashes between police and protesters left two people dead and more than 500 injured.
Sonthi toppled Thaksin's government in September 2006, accusing the billionaire of widespread corruption and of disloyalty to the king, which is a serious offence in Thailand.
Thaksin's allies returned to power after elections last year.
Sonthi however criticised PAD leaders for a lack of strategy, and predicted more attacks against protesters in future.
"Bomb attacks against PAD will happen again and will continue," he said.
"If PAD core leaders are not strong enough it will be difficult to fight. They must know their enemy as well as know themselves -- they must assess themselves whether are ready to fight with Thaksin," he said.
He added that the PAD needed to "make more friends and reduce their enemies".
Support for the group has fallen in recent weeks as Thais tire of the bipartisan politics and of some of the group's heavy handed tactics, including an initial refusal to open a road for the funeral of the king's sister.
Thaksin, who is living in exile to avoid corruption charges, is set to make a telephone address to his supporters on December 13 which could further inflame the situation.
Sonthi however said he did not believe Thaksin would not return home any time soon.
"I am confident that Thaksin will not return to Thailand. He just wants to boost his supporters' spirit and sympathy by repeatedly saying he will return," he said.
Sonthi said the only chance for a return to normality in the kingdom was to find "neutral and accepted" people to heal the rifts in society -- although he did not say whom.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Asia Pacific
UN panel urges China apology to 1989 protestersAP - 2 hours 18 minutes ago
Tibetan exiles debate the future of the movementAP - Saturday, November 22
Singapore, China signs MOU on aviation security cooperationChannel NewsAsia - Saturday, November 22
Myanmar court hands comedian 45-year prison termAP - Saturday, November 22
Vietnam and Venezuela set up 200 million dollar joint fundAFP - Saturday, November 22
Enlarge Photo
Ex-Thai coup leader expects peaceful protests
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
Wall Street plunges again as panic spreads
Is superfood omega-3 keeping its promise?
Oil prices slump under $50 per barrel
World stocks dive as panic spreads
New strain of deadly Ebola virus discovered
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular