Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Thai crisis likely to resume after royal funeral
| International
|
My Profile
Postcards to the President
Messages from citizens around the world
Watch Now
You are here:
Home
>
News
>
International
>
Article
Home
Business & Finance
News
U.S.
Politics
International
Technology
Entertainment
Sports
Lifestyle
Oddly Enough
Environment
Health
Science
Special Coverage
Video
Pictures
You Witness
The Great Debate
Blogs
Reader Feedback
Do More With Reuters
RSS
Widgets
Mobile
Podcasts
Newsletters
You Witness News
Make Reuters My Homepage
Partner Services
CareerBuilder
Affiliate Network
Professional Products
Support (Customer Zone)
Reuters Media
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Thai crisis likely to resume after royal funeral
Fri Nov 14, 2008 4:16am EST
Email | Print |
Share
| Reprints | Single Page
[-]
Text
[+]
By Nopporn Wong-Anan
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's rival political camps began a three-day truce Friday for the cremation of the king's sister, but the hostilities that have hampered economic growth and claimed three lives look set to resume after her funeral.
Despite fears that the absence of functional government may help tip the export-driven economy into recession, supporters and opponents of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, focus of the three-year crisis, show no signs of letting up.
Jatuporn Prompan, a lawmaker from the ruling People Power Party (PPP), cited intelligence reports saying the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) may launch bomb attacks Sunday to discredit the government.
"They want to make the government look very bad, unable to provide peace and security during the royal ceremony," he said.
This month police arrested three PAD "security guards" with small homemade bombs and pistols -- weapons intended to defend the movement that has occupied the prime minister's compound since August against counter-attack by pro-government supporters.
However, leaders of the PAD, a coalition of royalist academics, activists and businessmen united by their hatred of Thaksin, denied any violent intent, and accused the government side of fomenting unrest.
"After the royal rites, they may resort to violence," said PAD supremo Chamlong Srimuang, a retired general who led mass street protests against a military-backed government in 1992, provoking a bloody military crackdown.
Last month, two people died and nearly 500 people were injured in clashes between police and anti-government protesters, the worst political violence in Bangkok since the 1992 bloodshed.
The violence put a further dampener on domestic consumption, and with the government too preoccupied with survival to contemplate doing anything to offset the impact of a global slowdown, economists are cutting 2009 growth projections to 5 percent or below.
PAD SLIDE
A new opinion poll shows a drastic fall in the support for the PAD, which paints its campaign as a crusade to preserve the monarchy against a bid by Thaksin -- vehemently denied -- to turn Thailand into a republic.
The poll, by Bangkok's Assumption University, showed support for the PAD shrinking to 26 percent in November from 48 percent a month ago, in large part because of its refusal to dismantle street barricades to allow royal cars past for the funeral rites.
But PAD support could easily return, pollster Noppadon Kannika said, if Thaksin, now believed to be in Hong Kong after Britain revoked his visa last week, tried to use his influence with the current government to get a graft conviction quashed, or tried to drag the king into the political maelstrom.
Earlier this month, he telephoned a mass rally in Bangkok to say only the king or "the people" could bring him home -- remarks his opponents said defamed the monarch, an offence that carries up to 15 years in jail.
Other analysts said the next flashpoint for the PAD could be the government's bid, maybe later this month, to amend the army-designed constitution.
"I just can't see how the stalemate will end as no one is caving in," said political commentator Sukhum Nualskul.
© Thomson Reuters 2008 All rights reserved
Share:
Del.icio.us
Digg
Mixx
My Web
Facebook
LinkedIn
Next Article:
Foreigners shot in Pakistan, U.S. missiles hit militants
Also on Reuters
Slideshow
Crocodile vs. Zebra
Video
Flying high in Mexico
New Bond girl divides fans
Related News
SCENARIOS: What's in store for politically riven Thailand?
4:16am EST
Editor's Choice
Pictures
Video
Articles
Slideshow
A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours. Slideshow
quake drill
moon festival
Congo gorillas
Lifestyle: Prince Charles proving popular at 60
US: Obama likely to push courts away from right
Health: Experts urge more health care aid to states
Most Popular on Reuters
Articles
Video
Recommended
UPDATE 1-U.S. automakers bailout outlook in doubt-senator
Hillary Clinton emerges as State dept candidate
Resort plans nude "anything goes" party
UPDATE 3-Hillary Clinton emerges as US State dept candidate
Angelina Jolie plans "fade away" from Hollywood
Qaeda stung by U.S. pressure in Pakistan-CIA chief
Tough new Bond girl divides fans, reignites debate | Video
Medvedev: ready to respond if U.S. ends missile plan
Soros says deep recession inevitable, depression possible
U.S. missiles hit Pakistani Taliban, 12 dead
Most Popular Articles RSS Feed
Video
The world's top bottom
G20 to tackle economy
The search for First Dog
Obama's defense policy
World's best bottoms
California stages big quake drill
Talk of the Town: 007 too violent?
Talk of the Town: Anand Jon
Rebuilding bridges in Baghdad
And Finally.. In Dog We Trust.
Most Popular Videos RSS Feed
The Great Debate
World Affairs:
Barack Obama and The Ugly American
Bernd Debusmann
It's been an enduring label that's fed anti-American sentiments around the globe. Columnist Bernd Debusmann examines whether this label will disappear or fade following Barack Obama's election. Commentary
Reuters Deals
The global destination for corporate leaders, deal-makers and innovators
Knowledge to Act
Reuters.com:
Help and Contact Us |
Advertise With Us |
Mobile |
Newsletters |
RSS |
Interactive TV |
Labs |
Reuters in Second Life |
Archive |
Site Index |
Video Index
Thomson Reuters Corporate:
Copyright |
Disclaimer |
Privacy |
Professional Products |
Professional Products Support |
About Thomson Reuters |
Careers
International Editions:
Africa |
Arabic |
Argentina |
Brazil |
Canada |
China |
France |
Germany |
India |
Italy |
Japan |
Latin America |
Mexico |
Russia |
Spain |
United Kingdom |
United States
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Other News on Friday, 14 November 2008 Renewed flare-up of violence around Gaza
American University takes root in northern Iraq
Thai crisis likely to resume after royal funeral
| International
|
Court refuses to free Lockerbie bomber due to cancer
Foreigners shot in Pakistan, U.S. missiles hit militants
| International
|
Suspected US missile strike kills 10 in Pakistan: officials
Eurozone sinks into recession for first time
EU, Russia seek to put ties back on track
| International
|
OPEC to hold special meeting in Cairo on November 29
Dexia posts 1.54 billion euro loss
India Kashmir votes in test for New Delhi rule
| International
|
World leaders gather for crisis summit
EU's Solana says new contacts with Iran possible
| International
|
Wildfire destroys 70 homes in California
Scottish court refuses to free Lockerbie bomber
HK enters recession for first time in 5 years
Adulterated milk kills six tribal children in India
| International
|
Nissan to further cut production in Japan
US mil: soldier dies of noncombat causes in Iraq
Videogame makers predict jingle bells at registers
| Technology
|
S&P cuts Pakistan ratings as debt crisis loomss
Lawmaker plans bill on Web neutrality
| Technology
|
China says it might work with IMF on global crisis
Japan ready to lend $100B to IMF bailout fund
UK couple in real-life divorce over virtual affair
| Technology
|
Sumitomo Mitsui first-half profit plunges 51 pct
OPEC to hold special meeting in Cairo on November 29
China shares extend gains on stimulus plan
Taiwan dollar off 2-wk low on US$ selling, exporters
Nissan cuts production further in Japan
S.Korea won turns down on econ fear, risk aversion
CSI fans unhappy about William Petersen exit: poll
| Entertainment
|
Wildfire devastates celebrity enclave near L.A.
| Entertainment
|
Resurgent U.S. dollar a challenge for concert biz
| Entertainment
|
Gaza violence flares again as UN food handouts stop
Rockets from Gaza strike deep into Israel
World asked to help craft online charter for religious harmony
Somali Islamists approach Mogadishu, impose sharia
| International
|
Air France pilot strike causes major disruption
Key Shiite clerics warn Iraqi gov't about US pact
Zimbabwe opposition shuns power-sharing government
| International
|
Google giving voice to iPhone Internet search
Opel asks for German public loan guarantees
Counting the dead gets more complicated in Iraq
West queries IAEA aid for Syria during atomic probe
| International
|
Tech sector facing most job cuts since 2003: report
Indian probe lands on moon, sends images
Crime threatens Chavez vote in Venezuela slums
| International
|
British troops out of Iraq by end of 2009: Iraqi official
'Second Life' ends first marriage for British man
Britain's Prince Charles turns 60
Explosive charge thrown at EU mission in Kosovo
| International
|
Speculation Obama will choose Clinton as top diplomat
Nokia sees cellphone, gear market falling in 2009
| Technology
|
Top Iraq official upbeat over US, British pull-out pacts
US shares fall on weak sales data, Europe climbs despite recession
Facebook pulls Italian neo-Nazi pages after outcry
| Technology
|
Court refuses to free Lockerbie bomber due to cancer
Japan 'worried' foreign investors may withdraw capital, says official
Obama considers Clinton for secretary of state: reports
Crisis forces carmakers to confront problems in China
Pakistani rupee ends steady despite rating downgrade
WRAPUP 1-Foreigners shot in Pakistan, US missiles hit militants
Crude falling despite news of another OPEC meeting
Charlize Theron named U.N. peace messenger
| Entertainment
|
OPEC calls special meeting amid calls for output cut
Justin Timberlake's NY restaurant sued over wages
| Entertainment
|
Stars watch horrified as luxury Calif. homes burn
| Entertainment
|
Ex-Guns N'Roses drummer seeks rehab, and his old job
| Entertainment
|
Author recalls how Schindler's List was written
| Entertainment
|
Reality turns harsh for former Idol participant
| Entertainment
|
Lizzie McGuires Hilary Duff to get own TV show
| Entertainment
|
UK photo show documents death, revolution in Iran
| Entertainment
|
US military says 10 insurgents killed in Afghanistan
Iraqi envoy sees US remaining ally under Obama
In shift, Microsoft sells software online
U.N. troubleshooter starts talks on Congo crisis
| International
|
Endeavour speeds toward space station
Obama rumored to favor Clinton as top diplomat
Official history lifts a veil on US code-breaking agency
Sri Lanka army says seizes entire west coast
| International
|
Space shuttle Endeavour blasts off towards space station
China to spend $59 bln on airports by end-2010
| International
|
Taiwan's fiscal deficit to widen on econ-boosting moves
G20 to agree to reform roadmap, stimulus efforts
More than 100 homes gutted in wealthy California enclave
S.Korea agrees to guarantee banks' foreign loans
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,197
IMF head welcomes Japanese cash offer
Japan PM to urge removing toxic assets from balance sheets
Madonna appeals to fans to donate to Malawi school
| Entertainment
|
Crude continues decline despite signals from OPEC
Barry Manilow tackles '80s on fourth decade set
| Entertainment
|
David Letterman gives boost to country singer
| Entertainment
|
Convicted rapist seeks stardom in reggae world
| Entertainment
|
Stars watch horrified as luxury Calif. homes burn
| Entertainment
|
Reality turns harsh for former Idol participant
| Entertainment
|
California blaze 'like Armageddon' says actor Lowe
Rock band the Killers embrace pop on new album
| Entertainment
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights