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Thailand pro-government 'yellow shirts' call for martial law to end protests

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Thailand's pro-government People's Alliance for Democracy Network, known as "yellow shirts," called Monday for a declaration of martial law to quell the anti-government movement spearheaded by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, or "red shirts." The statement comes after over a month of conflict in Bangkok that has left more than 25 dead and nearly 1,000 injured in connection with increasingly violent anti-government protests. After an attack Sunday on a former premier's home left 11 people injured, the reds dug into their fortified bunker in Bangkok in anticipation of government retaliation. Yellow shirt representatives have said that if the government will not crack down on the reds, the group is prepared to take action itself. Last week, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced that he is prepared to negotiate with red shirt protesters once they cease their illegal conduct. Thai courts have recently issued arrest warrants for several high-profile protesters, including high-ranking officials of the red shirt opposition, in connection with violent protests and an alleged break-in at Parliament. Internal divisions have been mounting steadily in Thailand since the 2006 ouster of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whose progressive policies engendered the support of the poor rural class that largely constitutes the reds today. The yellows, primarily consisting of the urban middle-class, considered Shinawatra, and as well as the reds, disloyal to the monarchy. Because of the mounting violence, Abhisit has imposed a state of emergency in Bangkok and neighboring provinces.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on April 26, 2010 (boomark / email).