Word: somchai
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...Several thousands protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy have seized New Bangkok International Airport and Don Muang domestic airport since Tuesday in an attempt to force the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to resign. They claim the government's attempts to rewrite the country's constitution will wipe away corruption convictions and court cases against the ruling People Power Party and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is Somchai's brother...
...Rumors already swirling across the country of an imminent military coup were further fueled by a spokesman for Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat who told The Nation newspaper on Friday that the prime minister would remain in the northern city of Chiang Mai because of uncertainty related to movements of the armed forces. Tanks were seen in several locations around Bangkok on Thursday, but Army Commander in Chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda, who urged the prime minister the day before to dissolve parliament to hold new elections and the PAD to end its demonstrations, denied his forces would topple the government...
...That attempt to further disrupt Thailand's leadership failed. By Thursday morning several ministers and other lawmakers from the ruling party had arrived at the Prime Minister's home in Chiang Mai. More than 100 police officers guarded the housing estate, where Somchai returned the day before after having been at an overseas conference when the PAD began its airport incursions...
...After months of anti-government protests in Bangkok, the opposition alliance dramatically upped the ante earlier this week when they launched incursions into key Bangkok buildings. The protesters are demanding that Somchai resign and dissolve parliament. Their goal is to prevent Somchai's ruling People Power Party from rewriting the constitution to, in the words of the PAD, "whitewash the crimes" committed by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra "and his cronies." Somchai is Thaksin's brother-in-law. The protesters fear that changes to the constitution will pave the way for Thaksin's return to power...
...Wednesday, in a televised press conference Army Commander in Chief General Anupong Paochinda recommended that Somchai resign and call a new election, and that the PAD end all its protests. Since Thailand abolished absolute monarchy in 1932, the army has launched 18 coups?and the words of generals tend to carry weight. But both the PAD and Somchai have rejected the army chief's call. In a televised speech late Wednesday night, Somchai said, "it is not important if I am Prime Minister. But it is important that I protect democracy." Meanwhile, the PAD has refused a court order...