Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Dissolves Parliament, Calls for Snap Elections

In a last-ditch effort to ease out the widening political rift in Thailand, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra dissolved the Parliament on Monday and called for snap elections. Despite the effort however, more protesters have taken the streets, rallying to bring down Yingluck’s government.

Largest demonstration

The demonstration of more than 150,000 protesters has been going on for weeks already and is one of the largest demonstrations in the history of Thailand. Despite Yingluck’s move to invalidate the Parliament to call for a fresh mandate via early elections, the people remain unappeased and continue to clamor for her to step down from power. In her address shown on television, Yingluck said that she did not want the country and the citizens to lose more from the ongoing political upheaval hence she decided to dissolve the Parliament. Yingluck made the announcement when the protesters, in an ultimate attempt to pressure her administration, started to close in on the Government House where she holds office. Meanwhile, a day before the dissolution of the lower house, members of the opposition party declared they were ready for a mass resignation from their positions because they could no longer work harmoniously with the administration. There are 150 parliamentary seats occupied by members from the opposition party of Thailand.

Lost credibility

Opposition party head Abhisit Vejjajiva said Yingluck’s administration is not justified anymore to manage Thailand. Accordingly, the Prime Minister has lost her credibility in running the affairs of the country. On this basis, Vejjajiva said, the members of the opposition party in the Parliament have resigned from their posts. Yingluck’s decision to dissolve parliament and ordering quick elections is aimed at appeasing former deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban who leads the Democrat Party in the protests. Suthep and his followers are calling for the leadership to be transferred to an unofficial “People’s Council.”

Former Prime Minister’s clout

Although the street demonstrations were generally peaceful, the clashes between the government and protesters 10 days ago have resulted to five casualties. For the past weeks as the street rallies mounted, protesters filled in different public offices. The encounters that took place between the protesters and police were violent at certain points as both sides used tear gas and rocks against each other. Last Thursday, a truce was agreed on as a way of reverence to Thailand’s king who marked his 86th birthday. One of the objects of the people’s protests is former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck’s older brother, who is believed to be maintaining control on the government.

Ousted Thaksin

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in 2006 via a military coup. His political career was mainly supported by massive popularity. He won the support of the people in the rural areas through his populist policies. Since his ouster, he has lived in exile overseas. AltThaiNews is of the opinion that the present Thai government is being run openly by Thaksin Shinawatra, a convicted criminal, who lives abroad and running the country through his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra and the “Peua Thai Party” (PTP), his vast political machinery. PTP is known to be augmented by the “red shirts,” propaganda fronts and foreign-funded NGOs.

His return to Thailand would mean serving a two-year sentence for corruption, which he claims to be part of a political plot against him. The ongoing protests were brought about by the passage of an amnesty bill by the house through the initiative of Yingluck’s government. When approved, the amnesty would pave the way for Thaksin’s pardon and return to the country. Yingluck denies accusations by her critics that she is running the government under her brother’s influence.

Photo Credit: Parliament Dissolution in Thailand