BANGKOK, Sun:
The Thai Government today lifted the state of emergency declared in this capital on Sept 2, but the political turmoil is unlikely to end after the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) said its street protests will continue as long as the ruling People Power Party (PPP) remains in office.
Acting Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, the front-runner to replace disqualified premier Samak Sundaravej, said the situation has improved and the lifting of the emergency would restore confidence among investors and revive the sagging economy.
“The police are capable of handling the situation themselves. But if there is any problem, the army will assist them,” he told a news conference which was carried live by television channels.
The decision was made at a high-level meeting chaired by Somchai last night and attended by Army chief
General Anupong Paochinda and Police chief General Patcharawat Wongsuwan.
The then prime minister Samak had imposed the state of emergency after a violent clash between pro-government supporters and the PAD, which led to one person killed and over 40 injured.
Thailand has been in political turmoil since Aug 26 when thousands of anti-government protesters seized the Prime Minister’s Office at Government House. They are still occupying the premises and had wanted Samak to resign as they claimed he is a proxy of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
Last Tuesday, Samak was disqualified by the Constitution Court for violating the constitution by hosting the “Tasting and Grumbling” and “All Set at 6 am”
cooking programmes while still in office.
His attempt for a comeback was dashed on Friday when law-makers from his own party snubbed him during nomination for a new prime minister. Parliament will meet again on Wednesday and Somchai is the favourite to become the 26th prime minister of the kingdom, and the fourth in three years.
The state of emergency was widely criticised as the army refused to evacuate the PAD supporters from Government House while thousands of foreign tourists have cancelled their visits, with the Thai Hotels Association (THA) claiming that over 40 per cent of room bookings were cancelled in the past two weeks.
Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) president Charoen Wangananont had said that about 50,000 Chinese visitors cancelled travel plans to Bangkok, which included 30 charter flights from that country.
Hoteliers and travel agencies are increasingly worried that if the state of emergency remains in place, it would paralyse the tourist high season beginning next month.
Tourism suffered badly after protesters closed down airports in Phuket, Krabi and Hatyai for few days to support the anti-government protests here.
Despite Samak’s exit and the lifting of the state of emergency, the current situation looks set to prolong.
PAD leader, retired Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang, said PAD would continue the anti-government protests at Government House.
He said they were not prepared to accept Somchai, who is Thaksin’s brother-in-law, Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee or Justice Minister Somchai Amornwiwat as the new prime minister as they are all from the current regime.
PAD first started street protests on May 25 before storming Government House on Aug 26. In 2006, it organised massive street protests for months before the military staged a coup on Sept 19 2006 to oust Thaksin.
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