THAI PRIME minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency yesterday to quell political unrest and threatened to take tough action against protesters who have gathered in Bangkok.
Troops fired into the air when anti-government protesters stormed the interior ministry yesterday. The crowds mobbed a car they thought was carrying the prime minister and beat it with clubs as it drove away from the ministry.
Supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra triggered the emergency when they pushed past riot troops into the venue of a major Asian summit in the southern resort of Pattaya, forcing the meetings to be cancelled.
Some leaders had to flee by helicopter. After declaring victory there, the red-shirted Thaksin supporters gathered yesterday at Government House in central Bangkok. By evening they numbered around 40,000. The protesters set up makeshift roadblocks and men, some with sticks, manned them. By midnight the crowd remained large, although some had begun trickling home.
Mr Thaksin, who has been making nightly phone calls to his supporters from exile, said earlier yesterday it was now the “golden time” to rise up against the government.
He repeated his call for a “people’s revolution” and said he was ready to move back to Thailand to lead a people’s uprising if there was a coup.
Thailand has seen 18 coups since 1932, and another one is certainly a possibility if there is blood in the streets.
Mr Abhisit appeared on television last night to dispel any talk of a possible military coup. “I can confirm that the government and security agencies are still unified. You can see all the heads of the armed forces meeting with me right now,” he said. The camera panned to the commanders of the army, navy, air force and deputy police chief.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has warned Irish visitors to Thailand to exercise extreme caution in Bangkok and other areas where there is political unrest.
An official said last night it had no reports of Irish citizens in difficulty as a result of the turmoil.
The department says visitors should avoid demonstrations, large groups and public gatherings as well as Government buildings, state institutions and universities throughout the country.
It says further outbreaks of violence cannot be ruled out, and Irish people in Thailand should keep themselves informed of developments via the media and internet. Its consular advice to travellers says they should confirm travel plans with their airline carrier or travel agents.
Irish citizens in Thailand are advised to register their details with the department at http://www.dfa.ie or by sending an e-mail to the Irish honorary consulate at ireland@loxinfo.co.th.
“The political situation in Thailand remains highly volatile and uncertain. There is a possibility of further political unrest and more violence. Irish citizens should be aware of this if planning to travel to or through Thailand.”
The department is advising against all but essential travel to or through southern Thai provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla.
Thailand is a popular destination with Irish holidaymakers, and Easter is a particularly busy time, according to travel agents.
