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Thailand PM demands protesters abide by laws

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

[JURIST] Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced Wednesday that he is prepared to negotiate with protesters once they cease their illegal conduct. Government spokesperson Panitan Wattanyagorn stated that the prime minister is willing to speak with protesters regarding an election and amending the constitution once protesters abide by the law. Anti-government protesters, known as red shirts, have been associated with a series on unlawful acts, including blocking a train carrying military vehicles and fortifying their base area with tire barriers and homemade weapons. Their camp, which occupies Bangkok's business district, has forced businesses to close and suffer financial losses. Unidentified attackers have also caused fire damage after launching rocket-propelled grenades at a fuel depot near an airport. The red shirts claim that Abhisit came to power illegitimately and that he should resign and call for elections. The protests are currently in their sixth week and have led to an increasingly hostile political climate in Thailand. On Tuesday, Amnesty International (AI) called for an investigation into the deaths of 25 people during recent anti-government protests. Earlier this month, a Thai court issued arrest warrants for at least 17 high-profile protesters, including top red shirt officials. Abhisit hopes that the arrest warrants will encourage the protesters to disperse. Abhisit was forced to declare a state of emergency earlier this month after a Thai court refused to issue an injunction against the protesters. The protesters are supporters of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was removed from power during a 2006 military coup. Thaksin was convicted in absentia on corruption charges in October 2008. Despite the conviction, the Cambodian government refused to extradite the ousted prime minister to face a two-year prison sentence.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on April 21, 2010 (boomark / email).