Mass protest keeps up pressure on PM

Mass Up!!!!

April 9, 2009
BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand's embattled premier Abhisit Vejjajiva refused to step down Thursday, defying tens of thousands of protesters who massed in Bangkok for a second day demanding his resignation.
       
       Abhisit's three-month-old government is under renewed pressure after more than 100,000 loyal supporters of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra gathered in the capital Wednesday to demand that he quit office and call fresh elections.
       
       The so-called "Red Shirts" surrounded the residence of a key royal aide, whom they accuse of orchestrating the military coup that toppled Thaksin in 2006.
       
       Police said about 25,000 protesters were left early Thursday, camped outside the house of Prem Tinsulanonda, the top adviser to the king, as well as at Abhisit's office and Bangkok's Royal Plaza.
       
       But the prime minister said that he would not be forced from office and that the protesters should not let themselves be manipulated by Thaksin, who is living in exile to avoid a two-year jail sentence for corruption.
       
       "It's not right to yield to a group that is making a loud noise or using force," Abhisit said on local television.
       
       "Protesters should not fall victim to people who want to escape conviction. They should not rally in disguise for just one person who will not have to take responsibility," he said.
       
       The protesters have issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the resignation of Prem and two other members of the privy council.
       
       The finger-pointing at the king's inner circle broke a major taboo in Thailand, where the monarchy is revered, and fuelled the risk of what Abhisit described this week as a civil war.
       
       The protest in the capital, which began two weeks ago, has so far remained peaceful, with thousands of security forces guarding key sites.
       
       In one lone incident early Thursday a woman appeared to drive her car at protesters before escaping, causing one minor injury.
       
       On Tuesday a smaller group of "Red Shirts" attacked the prime minister's motorcade in the coastal city of Pattaya, where regional leaders are due to meet for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit on Friday.
       
       Abhisit said the incident was proof that the group wanted to provoke violence but insisted there was no threat to the summit of Asian leaders.
       
       Thaksin gave a speech to the protest rally via videolink after nightfall Wednesday, urging his loyal supporters to keep the protest going.
       
       "All brothers, can you wait for just three days? Invite all of your friends and relatives to come here. Teenagers, stop wandering in the shopping mall... your future is here," he told the crowd.
       
       Thaksin supporters remain furious about the way Abhisit took power in December following a court decision that removed Thaksin's allies from government.
       
       That ruling came after months of protests by rival protesters claiming allegiance to the monarchy, who occupied Government House and mounted a crippling blockade of Bangkok's airports.
       
       The nation remains deeply divided between Thaksin's mainly poor followers and his foes in Bangkok's traditional power centres of the palace, military and bureaucracy.

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