Tensions raise spectre of 'war' between protesters
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Politicians warned yesterday that rising conflict between opponents and supporters of the government-backed amnesty bill had the potential to become a violent national crisis.
Election commissioner Sodsri Satayathum expressed concern that the ongoing protests against the bill and the government could escalate into a political crisis or even a civil war.
“I don’t think anyone would want to see that kind of crisis happen in our country. I would like to call on the people involved to get together and talk so that the dispute can be solved and we can all get out of this crisis,” Sodsri said.
She said the nation was now disunited, which was dangerous for the country in the face of an imminent ruling by the International Court of Justice on a territorial dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. “We should unite instead and tackle together the problems emerging outside the country. It’s better than getting into a fight and killing each other.”
Former senator Boonthan Dokthaisong said that as the anti-amnesty campaign was escalating into a drive to oust the government, there was a risk of a “war” between supporters of both disputing sides.
However, he asked the military not to interfere and to avoid causing more damage to the country, as has been the case in the past. The warning come amidst a rowing number of confrontations between opponents of the amnesty bill and mainly supporters of the ruling Pheu Thai Party.
Pheu Thai’s Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung yesterday said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra would not dissolve the House of Representatives or resign from her post.
He claimed that the protests against the amnesty bill were being financed by business groups that are enemies of the politicians in power.
Yesterday, a group of Thai expatriates and students in the United Kingdom joined the protest by issuing a statement against the amnesty bill.
