Word: abhisit
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Tens of thousands of demonstrators surged the Thai capital on Sunday, pushing Thailand towards a tense political standoff as leaders of an anti-government protest movement threatened to paralyze Bangkok unless Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva resigns within 24 hours and calls for a new election. (See photos of last year's protests in Thailand...
...Government Spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said it was unlikely Prime Minister Abhisit would resign even if the protesters were able to temporarily paralyze parts of Bangkok. "They did that last year and the Prime Minister did not resign. We have the capability and legal authority to clear the streets if they begin breaking the law," he said...
...Prime Minister Abhisit has said that the red shirts are free to exercise their democratic rights, but they must not break any laws. Security forces have been on high alert since the start of the demonstrations on Friday, and Abhisit has invoked the Internal Security Act, which places responsibility for security to a joint council of politicians, the military and police chaired by the Prime Minister...
...Abhisit's Democrat Party came to power in December 2008 after a court dissolved a pro-Thaksin ruling party for electoral fraud, and some lawmakers formerly loyal to Thaksin defected and formed an alliance with the Democrats. Military leaders reportedly played a role in inducing the defection, and that scenario has Thaksin supporters characterizing the government as "unelected." Abhisit and security officials were monitoring the protests from an Army base in Bangkok, which the protesters have said they will surround if he does not resign...
...army onto the streets of the Thai capital to restore order. Thaksin, who had portrayed himself as a fighter for democracy, lost international credibility when he denied the Red Shirts were inciting unrest even as they were shown on television physically attacking the car of current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and beating and injuring one of his aides...