PHUKET: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra appeared on national television tonight about 8.40pm to explain why the government issued a special security order in advance of a large public protest in Bangkok this weekend.
While her speech was calculated to calm concerns and win further support for national reconciliation and parliamentary debate, her appearance was a reminder of the deep divisions in Thailand.
As a signal to the increasing internationalisation of the region, the five-minute speech carried subtitles in English.
PM Yingluck, fresh from a week that has seen her greet US President Barack Obama and China's Premier Wen Jiabao, presented as a leader of some authority dealing calmly with a possible upheaval.
The speech reinforced conventional democratic values but the Cabinet decision to impose the Internal Security Act for nine days in three Bangkok districts is a troubling sign.
The security law enables the government to prevent the use of certain routes or vehicles, impose a curfew, ban gatherings, carry out searches of buildings and censor the media.
Optimists within the broad Pitak Siam protest group forecast a crowd of as many as 500,000 protesters at Royal Plaza in the capital this Saturday.
Often in the past, forecasted figures of protest numbers have fallen well short of expectations.
A group of 400-500 people from Phuket and a similar sized group from Phang Nga are heading north for the event.
In line with PM's cautious tone on national television tonight, National Security Council chief Paradorn Pattanatabut told reporters earlier in the day: ''Based on our intelligence, the rally will be intense with a huge turnout of protesters.''
Firmly in the minds of viewers will be the knowledge that real reconciliation has failed to materialise in Thailand since the enduring struggle between red and yellow political opponents brought blood to the street of Bangkok two years ago.
While her speech was calculated to calm concerns and win further support for national reconciliation and parliamentary debate, her appearance was a reminder of the deep divisions in Thailand.
As a signal to the increasing internationalisation of the region, the five-minute speech carried subtitles in English.
PM Yingluck, fresh from a week that has seen her greet US President Barack Obama and China's Premier Wen Jiabao, presented as a leader of some authority dealing calmly with a possible upheaval.
The speech reinforced conventional democratic values but the Cabinet decision to impose the Internal Security Act for nine days in three Bangkok districts is a troubling sign.
The security law enables the government to prevent the use of certain routes or vehicles, impose a curfew, ban gatherings, carry out searches of buildings and censor the media.
Optimists within the broad Pitak Siam protest group forecast a crowd of as many as 500,000 protesters at Royal Plaza in the capital this Saturday.
Often in the past, forecasted figures of protest numbers have fallen well short of expectations.
A group of 400-500 people from Phuket and a similar sized group from Phang Nga are heading north for the event.
In line with PM's cautious tone on national television tonight, National Security Council chief Paradorn Pattanatabut told reporters earlier in the day: ''Based on our intelligence, the rally will be intense with a huge turnout of protesters.''
Firmly in the minds of viewers will be the knowledge that real reconciliation has failed to materialise in Thailand since the enduring struggle between red and yellow political opponents brought blood to the street of Bangkok two years ago.
I don't understand how people on Phuket, which are so dependent on the income from tourists can participate in an event, which might destroy this season.
Low season is for trouble making. High season is for money making - elementary.
Posted by Sherlock on November 22, 2012 21:32
Editor Comment:
People are participating out of political principle. Non-violent public protest is one of the basic tenets at the heart of democracies. You're the first person to suggest that Phuket's high season is somehow at risk.