2008 Thai political crisisThailand has been in political turmoil since mid-2008, with the elected government of Samak Sundaravej facing civil nrest from the right-wing[citetion needed] People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in a bid to force the government to amend the constitution to reduce the proportion of elected representatives in Parliament and resign. Continued anti-government demonstration in Bangkok by the PAD began in May 2008 and reached critical level in late August when Government House and several ministries were seized. A state of emergercy was declared in Bangkok on 2 September.
On September 9, 2008, ruling on complaints by Senators and the Election Commission received in the summer of 2008, the Constitutional Court removed Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej from office because he had inappropriately been involved in commercial enterprises.
The PAD had disbanded after themilitary coup in 2006 overthrew the elected government of Thaksin Shinawatra. The PAD re-established itself after Thaksin-affiliated parties, led by Samak Sundaravej, won the 2007 general election. In August and September 2008, PAD members seized the Government House. They were joined by tens of thousands of members, including the Srivichai Warriors — the PAD’s paramilitary force — who barricaded themselves in with barbed wire, bamboo spikes, and an impromptu electic fence. PAD members and allies seized airports in Phuket, Krabi, and Hat Yai, blocked off major roads, and stopped train operations across the Kingdom. Armed Srivichai Warriors seized a television broadcaster, the government-owned National Broadcasting service of Thailand, as well as several government ministries. Violence between PAD and anti-PAD protesters has, as of 3 September 2008, left dozens injured and one person of unknown political views dead. Various labor unions supporting the PAD threatened to shut off electricity, water, and water services, although they failed to follow up on their threats.The PAD has threatened that its wealthy backers would lead a massive bank run that could destabilize the Thai economy if the government does not give in to its demands.
On September 9, 2008, ruling on complaints by Senators and the Election Commission received in the summer of 2008, the Constitutional Court removed Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej from office because he had inappropriately been involved in commercial enterprises.
The PAD had disbanded after themilitary coup in 2006 overthrew the elected government of Thaksin Shinawatra. The PAD re-established itself after Thaksin-affiliated parties, led by Samak Sundaravej, won the 2007 general election. In August and September 2008, PAD members seized the Government House. They were joined by tens of thousands of members, including the Srivichai Warriors — the PAD’s paramilitary force — who barricaded themselves in with barbed wire, bamboo spikes, and an impromptu electic fence. PAD members and allies seized airports in Phuket, Krabi, and Hat Yai, blocked off major roads, and stopped train operations across the Kingdom. Armed Srivichai Warriors seized a television broadcaster, the government-owned National Broadcasting service of Thailand, as well as several government ministries. Violence between PAD and anti-PAD protesters has, as of 3 September 2008, left dozens injured and one person of unknown political views dead. Various labor unions supporting the PAD threatened to shut off electricity, water, and water services, although they failed to follow up on their threats.The PAD has threatened that its wealthy backers would lead a massive bank run that could destabilize the Thai economy if the government does not give in to its demands.
