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:
Thai opposition leader becomes prime minister
By AMBIKA AHUJA,Associated Press Writer AP - 2 hours 14 minutes ago
BANGKOK, Thailand - Parliament chose opposition party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as Thailand's prime minister Monday following months of political chaos, as supporters of the former government tried to blockade lawmakers in the building.
The articulate, Oxford-educated politician, who heads the Democrat Party, gathered 235 votes against 198 by former national police chief Pracha Promnok, a loyalist of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The lower house vote followed six months of instability caused by anti-government and anti-Thaksin demonstrations that culminated last month with a weeklong takeover of Bangkok's two airports, and the selection of new prime minister had been expected to calm the country's politics, at least temporarily.
However, several hundred Thaksin supporters tried to block the gates of Parliament in a last-ditch attempt to halt the result.
"We are not going to accept this. (Abhisit) did not win the election," said Sukhum Wongprasit in a fiery speech outside Parliament. "We will blockade the gates of Parliament so they won't be able to come out."
Police locked the gates from inside amid security concerns as some protesters screamed out in anger while others tried to break into the compound. Protesters later threw up dozens of metal barricades as hundreds of policemen in riot gear formed lines to block them from entering.
Following the vote, Abhisit thanked fellow lawmakers and the public but said he would not talk about politics until he was officialty endorsed as prime minister by the constitutional monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The chamber normally has 480 members, but because of vacancies currently numbers 437. One MP died on the eve of the voting.
Despite Monday's protest outside Parliament, analysts foresee relative stability in coming months following political chaos and the airport siege which ended after a court ruling on Dec. 2 dissolved the ruling People's Power Party and two coalition partners. It also handed a five-year political ban to former premier Somchai Wongsawat, who is Thaksin's brother-in-law.
The remnants of the PPP regrouped as the Phuea Thai Party, which were also seeking a majority in Monday's session.
The anti-Thaksin protest movement seeks to purge politics of the influence of Thaksin _ who was ousted by a 2006 coup after being accused of corruption and abuse of power _ and has threatened new but unspecified activities if Parliament elects a leader with links to him.
"The Democrats are positioned to win this round. They seem to have the votes, the support of the private sector and the business community which hopes for temporary respite," said Sukhum Nuansakul, a political scientist at Bangkok's Ramkhamhaeng University, shortly before the vote began.
"But the peace is likely to be short-lived. The fundamental problem has not been resolved," Sukhum said. "A Democrat win sets the stage for another round of street protests, this time by pro-Thaksin groups."
Thaksin now lives in exile, having fled Thailand ahead of an October conviction on a conflict of interest charge.
But he continues to play an active role in politics, and Saturday night Thaksin gave a prerecorded video speech to a rally of more than 40,000 of his supporters who gathered at a stadium in central Bangkok.
Thaksin decried inappropriate interference in the political process _ a reference to the army's alleged intervention in favor of the Democrats _ and denounced lawmakers who had been loyal to him but switched their allegiances. The army traditionally wields a great deal of influence in Thai politics.
Thaksin, a former telecommunications magnate, is still supported by many in Thailand's impoverished countryside because of his populist policies during his six years in power.
Democrat leader Abhisit told reporters Sunday that it was his party's "responsibility to offer another choice for the country when the former government has failed." He said his party would focus on national harmony and economic issues.
Thailand's economy has taken a battering due to the global slowdown, a local climate of uncertainty and the seven-day stoppage of international flights that battered the country's essential tourism industry and stranded upward of 300,000 travelers. Some economists are predicting Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy will slip into recession next year.
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
Tokyo police bust child porn ring: officialAFP - 32 minutes ago
Thai opposition leader becomes prime ministerAP - 35 minutes ago
RPT-GLOBAL MARKETS-US auto bailout hopes boost Asia stocksReuters - 36 minutes ago
ASEAN charter comes into forceAP - 40 minutes ago
Afghan reporters keep shoes on for BushAP - 50 minutes ago
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
Actress Jennifer Aniston appears naked in GQ magazine
Queen Elizabeth II reins in extravagance as credit crunch grips
Fortis bank, saved from collapse, again on shaky ground
Russia crowned Miss World 2008 in African event
White House: no action on auto bailout while Bush in Iraq
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular