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Protests cause Thai speech delay | Protests cause Thai speech delay |
(20 minutes later) | |
Thailand's new Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has had to delay his opening speech to parliament due to anti-government protests. | Thailand's new Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has had to delay his opening speech to parliament due to anti-government protests. |
Hundreds of protesters loyal to deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra surrounded parliament on Monday, after tens of thousands also gathered on Sunday. | Hundreds of protesters loyal to deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra surrounded parliament on Monday, after tens of thousands also gathered on Sunday. |
The demonstrators say Mr Abhisit has no mandate to lead and should resign. | The demonstrators say Mr Abhisit has no mandate to lead and should resign. |
He was elected in a parliamentary vote two weeks ago, after a court dissolved the former pro-Thaksin government. | He was elected in a parliamentary vote two weeks ago, after a court dissolved the former pro-Thaksin government. |
Mr Abhisit is Thailand's third prime minister in four months. | Mr Abhisit is Thailand's third prime minister in four months. |
He now faces crowds of red-clad opponents on the streets who say they object to his route to power. | He now faces crowds of red-clad opponents on the streets who say they object to his route to power. |
Delay | Delay |
"The government has informed me that they are co-ordinating with protesters and have asked me to delay," said house speaker Chai Chidchob. | "The government has informed me that they are co-ordinating with protesters and have asked me to delay," said house speaker Chai Chidchob. |
In pictures: Protests thwart Thai PM He said the speech - originally due to start at 0930 (0230 GMT) - had been put back for a second time from 1400 to 1700. | In pictures: Protests thwart Thai PM He said the speech - originally due to start at 0930 (0230 GMT) - had been put back for a second time from 1400 to 1700. |
It could be further delayed until Tuesday or even into the new year, he said, if the protests did not subside. | It could be further delayed until Tuesday or even into the new year, he said, if the protests did not subside. |
Under the constitution, a new Thai government cannot start work officially until it delivers its policy statement to a joint sitting of the House of Representatives and Senate. This speech was expected to outline measures to try to boost Thailand's ailing economy. | Under the constitution, a new Thai government cannot start work officially until it delivers its policy statement to a joint sitting of the House of Representatives and Senate. This speech was expected to outline measures to try to boost Thailand's ailing economy. |
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugusban said the government was negotiating with protesters to allow cars past the blockade and into parliament. | Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugusban said the government was negotiating with protesters to allow cars past the blockade and into parliament. |
"We will not allow government MPs to walk into parliament. It's too dangerous," he said. | "We will not allow government MPs to walk into parliament. It's too dangerous," he said. |
Organisers of the protests said they would not prevent parliamentarians from entering the building, but dared them to leave their cars and walk between lines of protesters. | Organisers of the protests said they would not prevent parliamentarians from entering the building, but dared them to leave their cars and walk between lines of protesters. |
No mandate? | No mandate? |
Mr Abhisit was elected by parliament after a court required the dissolution of parties in the ruling coalition. | Mr Abhisit was elected by parliament after a court required the dissolution of parties in the ruling coalition. |
He has tried to distance himself from an earlier wave of protests against the previous Thaksin-backed government which had forced the closure of the country's airports for eight days. | He has tried to distance himself from an earlier wave of protests against the previous Thaksin-backed government which had forced the closure of the country's airports for eight days. |
But members of his new government, including the foreign minister, took part in those protests. | But members of his new government, including the foreign minister, took part in those protests. |
Those yellow-clad protesters are called the Peoples' Alliance for Democracy or PAD. | Those yellow-clad protesters are called the Peoples' Alliance for Democracy or PAD. |
The new wave of protests, led by red-clad Thaksin loyalists, are called the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship. | The new wave of protests, led by red-clad Thaksin loyalists, are called the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship. |
Slogans on banners included "Abhisit get out, this is a prostitute's government", "We are ready to protect Thaksin", "Give us back real democracy" and "Government of treason". | Slogans on banners included "Abhisit get out, this is a prostitute's government", "We are ready to protect Thaksin", "Give us back real democracy" and "Government of treason". |
Mr Thaksin was ousted from the prime minister's job in a military coup in 2006, but elections in December 2007 under a new constitution returned his loyalists to power. | Mr Thaksin was ousted from the prime minister's job in a military coup in 2006, but elections in December 2007 under a new constitution returned his loyalists to power. |
Several governments led by his supporters collapsed under the weight of court rulings against them, PAD protests and a defection within parliament by a formerly pro-Thaksin faction. | Several governments led by his supporters collapsed under the weight of court rulings against them, PAD protests and a defection within parliament by a formerly pro-Thaksin faction. |
Now his supporters are on the streets in moves to blockade parliament reminiscent of the protests mounted against them when they were in power. | Now his supporters are on the streets in moves to blockade parliament reminiscent of the protests mounted against them when they were in power. |
Mr Abhisit had promised a government of reconciliation and economic recovery. | Mr Abhisit had promised a government of reconciliation and economic recovery. |
New Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said last week that the country's export-driven economy would shrink in the fourth quarter and barely grow in 2009. | New Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said last week that the country's export-driven economy would shrink in the fourth quarter and barely grow in 2009. |
Mr Korn, an Oxford-trained former investment banker, projected 2009 growth at between 0% and 2%, the worst in a decade. | Mr Korn, an Oxford-trained former investment banker, projected 2009 growth at between 0% and 2%, the worst in a decade. |
Are you in Thailand? Do you support the protesters? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Thailand? Do you support the protesters? Send us your comments using the form below. |