Thai Anti-Government Leaders Escape Capture

In a new setback to the Thai government's efforts to ease mounting political tensions, protest leaders escaped from their hotel Friday after security forces arrived to arrest them. One, Arisman Pongruangrong, climbed down three floors using a rope, and was rushed away by supporters thronging the building. The police say Arisman led recent rallies at the national parliament, the election commission and satellite transmission bases. Officials earlier Friday said the government is preparing to arrest people linked to violent clashes with security forces last Saturday. A spokesman for the governing Democrat Party, Baranuj Smuthararaks, says arrest warrants have been issued for those suspected of being involved in the violence. Some of the suspects have been identified from photos taking during the clashes. "Right now the government's focusing on issuing warrants for acts of terrorism by the people who fortunately have been captured in action [in photos] by both the local and international media," he said. The government says armed men infiltrated protester ranks Saturday and fired on troops trying to disperse a rally. Five soldiers and 19 protesters died during the clashes. Thailand is facing its most severe political crisis in almost 20 years. The anti-government movement, led by the United Democratic Front against Dictatorship or UDD, demands that the government step down and call fresh elections. UDD supporters, known as red shirts, have held protests in Bangkok for more than a month. The UDD largely supports former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup in 2006 and remains overseas to avoid a jail sentence for corruption. Mr. Thaksin has strong support among the rural and urban poor, as well among some sections of the army and police. Some parties in the governing coalition want to set a clear time frame for elections to ease tensions. But the government says it will only call elections once the political situation has cooled.

Thailand's Tourism Industry Falls Victim to Bangkok Protests

Anti-government protesters take camp in a main commercial shopping district
causing shops and businesses to close down
where they have occupied for more than a week in Bangkok, Thailand,
11 Apr 2010

An industry association warns Thailand's tourism business faces staggering losses this year because of the confrontation between anti-government protesters and security forces. Many tourists have canceled travel to Thailand or have fled areas caught up in deadly clashes in the past few days.

The Federation of Thai Industries says the political conflict could cost the tourism industry more than $1 billion, after images of deadly clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces were flashed across the world.

The FTI says hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops and shopping malls near the protest sites would be hardest hit.

More than 40 countries have issued travel warnings regarding Bangkok.

Khao San Road is a popular tourist area in the city, and it is close to the location of the worst violence on Saturday, when more than 20 people died, and hundreds injured.

Kumtan drives a tuk-tuk, or small three-wheeled taxi, on Khao San.

Kumtan says foreign travelers will stay away this year because they are afraid. He says is not good and will hit his income hard.

The protesters largely support former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup in 2006. They want Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resign and call new elections. They began mass protests in the city a month ago.

Even before the violence, hotels in Bangkok reported that 20 percent of their reservations were being canceled by travelers concerned by the protests.

Tourism industry officials expect visitor arrivals to fall to about 14.5 million this year, one million less than had been expected, because of the protests. Tourism accounts for some six percent of Thailand's national income.

One of the main protest sites is in the heart of a large shopping, hotel and transportation hub. As a result, hundreds of popular shops have been forced to close ever the past week, with hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.

The violence led to the Bangkok city government to cancel official celebrations for the Thai New Year, the Songkran festival, which begins Tuesday.

Alice, a tourist from France, says she notices the difference in atmosphere among the people.

"All the people are very stressed, stressed out," she noted. "People from Thailand are not like this usually, they are not like smiley people. This is just weird ambiance."

Small companies are especially at risk because they lack cash reserves. Krishna at a Khao San tailor shop says his business is suffering.

"This month is almost no business at all. It's been very quiet right now. Khao San is the most busiest during the festival, but this year seems like nobody here. It's almost empty around here," he noted.

Bob James, tourism industry consultant, says while the situation is serious, he expects tourism to recover.

"It's a serious situation but I also think you have to put things into context," he explained. "Thailand is renowned for its tourism - it's one of the major tourism players in Asia and always has been. It's had its challenges and ups and downs but has rallied and come through."

Thailand's tourism authority is planning to begin a new wave of promotions once the political conflicts subside.

Thai FM Calls Thaksin a 'Terrorist'

Anti-goverment demonstrators climb over destroyed military vehicles
as they celebrate the Thai New Year near Democracy Monument
in Bangkok, Thailand, 13 Apr 2010

Thailand's foreign minister has lashed out at ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, accusing him of instigating deadly street demonstrations in Bangkok and calling him a "bloody terrorist." In comments Monday on the sidelines of a global nuclear summit in Washington, Kasit Piromya compared Mr. Thaksin to dictators Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin. Thai officials at the conference called on the international community to urge anti-government protesters to negotiate with the government to avoid military intervention. Also on Monday, Thailand's influential army chief called for parliament to be dissolved and early elections held as the best way to end anti-government protests. General Anupong Paojinda said he does not want to use force against the thousands of red-shirted protesters who are demanding Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva resign. The general said dissolving parliament appears to be the reasonable step to take. The red-shirted protesters carried mock coffins through the streets of Bangkok Monday to mourn the victims of Saturday's violence in the Thai capital. Twenty-one people were killed and several hundred injured when police fired at demonstrators, some of whom were also armed. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a statement Monday saying she and President Barack Obama are saddened by the violence and deaths. Thailand's Election Commission Monday recommended Prime Minister Abhisit's Democrat Party be dissolved, accusing it of accepting a multi-million dollar campaign contribution in 2005. A party spokesman says it fully complied with funding laws. Most of the so-called "Red Shirts" support exiled Prime Minister Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup because of allegations of corruption. The protesters call Mr. Abhisit an illegitimate leader. Mr. Thaksin has the backing of many rural and poor Thais.