Political Violence Takes Toll on Thai Economy

RDX : 民主初级阶段的通病 只是这些政客们为了权力就如此愿意残害国家？叹气

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BANGKOK -- A simmering political crisis in Thailand erupted in violence on Tuesday as police clashed with protesters who barricaded the nation's Parliament building for hours, trapping the prime minister and hundreds of lawmakers inside.

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European Pressphoto Agency

Angry Thai anti-government protesters clashed with police officers outside Parliament House in Bangkok Tuesday.


Multiple clashes left one woman dead and more than 350 people wounded, mostly protesters, according to the Associated Press. By Tuesday night, the army had deployed some personnel to help maintain security.

The first round of fighting was in the early morning, when demonstrators tried to keep Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from reaching Parliament to outline his policy plans. Police used tear gas to clear an entrance so lawmakers could get inside.

Later, protesters formed a blockade of Parliament, partly by using cars and trucks. In the late afternoon, police moved to break up the cordon. Protesters set some vehicles on fire. Thai media said the prime minister scaled a fence to get into a nearby compound, and was taken from there to army headquarters by helicopter.

The clashes stem from the divisive issue of how this conservative, Buddhist kingdom should be governed. To curry favor with the poor, some Thai politicians have developed populist policies such as broader access to credit and inexpensive medical care. Many protesters, mostly comprised of wealthier Bangkok residents, want a more limited governing role for one-person, one-vote style democracy. They say professional and social groups should appoint a majority of lawmakers to reduce alleged electoral fraud.

Tuesday's violence is a fresh blow to Thailand's increasingly fragile economy, as well as its large tourism industry.

Thailand is a global production hub for several multinationals, including Toyota Motor Co. and Ford Motor Co., and a destination for millions of vacationers. The country had hoped to attract 15 million tourists this year. Tourist spending accounts for 6% of gross domestic product, and 12% if related services are included.


Somchai Wongsawat


The violence is likely to deepen investor anxiety about Thailand, as neighbors like Vietnam attract more of the region's foreign capital. The global credit crunch has greatly amplified concerns about slowing investment and consumer spending.

The benchmark Stock Exchange of Thailand Index has fallen about 37% since protesters seized Government House, the country's main administrative complex, in August. Tourist arrivals dropped after protesters briefly shut several airports last month. On Tuesday, Thai stocks tumbled 4.2% and the baht weakened.

During three years of political turmoil, two prime ministers have been ousted. Thaksin Shinawatra was overthrown by a military coup in 2006 and is now seeking political asylum in Britain to avoid a raft of corruption charges. Samak Sundaravej, elected when democracy was restored last year, was forced out last month by Thailand's courts. He was convicted of unlawfully accepting payments to host a television cooking show.

Mr. Somchai, who became prime minister on Sept. 18, is the latest target of protesters. Like Mr. Samak, he is a political ally of Mr. Thaksin. Mr. Somchai is married to Mr. Thaksin's sister.

The protestors at Government House have remained there since August. That has forced Mr. Somchai's government to operate from a wing of Bangkok's former international airport. On Sunday, tensions escalated when police arrested a key protest leader, Chamlong Srimuang, a retired general, on charges of inciting an insurrection.

"The protesters are doing their best to provoke a confrontation, and it's difficult for the police to use force against them," says Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science professor at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.

Arrest warrants have also been issued for eight other protest leaders, including media tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul, who spearheaded a campaign against Mr. Thaksin prior to the 2006 coup. On Tuesday, Mr. Sondhi called for more protests.

Mr. Somchai, who has vowed to stay in office, defended Tuesday's action by police, saying they did their duty to safeguard Parliament.