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.

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.