Thai Politics - Uncertain Future

(Baonghean) - After a brief "quiet period", Thai politics is facing the risk of heating up again. While anti-government protesters plan to "take down" the caretaker prime minister and her cabinet, the red shirts have a similar plan. No one can predict what will happen if the two sides clash directly, but bloodshed and economic damage are certainly inevitable...

NIn recent days, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has faced another legal challenge. The country's Constitutional Court announced on April 2 that it will try the caretaker prime minister on charges of mismanagement when deciding to transfer a key government official in 2011. This official is the head of the National Security Council and is considered a supporter of the opposition party. This is indeed a huge challenge when the country's constitutional courts said they had accepted the petition of senators. These people all have anti-government views. In addition, a number of judges and top officials of the agency handling the case also have similar views. If convicted, Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra will certainly be forced to leave her position as caretaker prime minister. However, the time to charge caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck has not been specifically determined because it takes time to investigate.

Meanwhile, she is still facing another problem related to the controversial rice subsidy program. The thing that the protesters have relied on to get farmers on their side. According to the Thai Anti-Corruption Commission, Ms. Yingluck neglected her responsibilities, ignored warnings about corruption in the implementation of the rice subsidy policy, as well as the economic damage that this program could cause. However, she cannot be charged immediately because the Thai Anti-Corruption Commission needs time to review additional testimony from related witnesses. Yesterday (April 3), Mr. Sanrasern, Secretary General of the Thai Anti-Corruption Commission, announced: After the traditional Thai "water festival" (from April 12-15), the Anti-Corruption Commission can make an official decision on whether or not caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra violated the law in the rice purchasing program from farmers.

The Anti-Corruption Commission postponed the decision on Prime Minister Yingluck because the Commission had to take time to consider additional testimony from three witnesses who are Deputy Prime Ministers in the Thai caretaker government related to the rice purchasing program. In addition, the Secretary General of the Thai Anti-Corruption Commission also said: From mid-April, the Commission will officially issue a decision to charge 308 senators and former members of the House of Representatives with unconstitutional charges related to the passing of the bill amending the Constitution on the method of electing senators, and this bill was ruled to be annulled by the Constitutional Court.

While still facing many legal battles, in recent days, there have been large-scale protests on the streets of the capital Bangkok. Specifically, on April 1, an official from Thailand's emergency agency said that an anti-government protester was shot dead and four others were injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire on people participating in a march in the capital Bangkok. Immediately, protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban blamed Ms. Yingluck for this attack. Previously, at least 2 people were killed and 22 others were injured in a bomb attack on a shopping mall in the capital Bangkok on February 23. Since November 2013 last year, the number of people killed in street protests has reached 24.

Both anti-government protesters and protesters supporting the cabinet of caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra have planned “very large” demonstrations in the coming days. The leader of the anti-dictatorship movement UDD, (also known as the pro-government red shirt faction, Mr. Jatuporn Prompan, said that about 500,000 red shirts are expected to gather in Thawi Watthana district starting from April 5 for their upcoming large demonstration. He affirmed that the demonstration will take place peacefully and avoid confrontation. Previously, Mr. Jatuporn Prompan announced the protest plan but did not specify the location. Meanwhile, on the opposite side, Suthep Thaugsuban also planned the same. At the same time, he also attracted the army to stand on his side. However, Thai Army Commander Prayuth said that they will stay out of this coup and only have the task of maintaining stability if violence occurs because the current army cannot deny the role of the interim prime minister. The above viewpoint of the Thai army once again shows that they will stay out of the current crisis. Remember, the Thai Army has carried out many coups to overthrow the government, they may have succeeded but they could not calm the people. Therefore, the conflicts between factions continue and this is a lesson for them.

The political crisis in Thailand has entered its 6th month after the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra passed the amnesty bill. Since then, Thai politics has been in turmoil, protesters are determined to overthrow the beautiful female prime minister because they believe that this bill will pave the way for the return of her brother, who was also prime minister but is currently living in exile due to corruption charges. However, these people have not yet achieved their goal and it seems that they do not want to give up this goal. As for Yingluck Shinawatra, she is still supported by many people (especially farmers) because her policies always aim at the lives of this class. And Yingluck certainly understands that if she gives up power, her fate will be the same as her brother's. When Suthep has not yet achieved his goal, it is obvious that Thai politics will continue to be unstable in the near future. “The best way is to find a solution that both sides can accept or one side has to withdraw,” said Mr. Prayuth, the commander of the Thai army. But it seems that this is still very far away in the current situation.

South Scene