Suthep calls for 3-day national strike, tells corporates to defer their tax payments

He called on employees and workers all over the country to stop working from tomorrow until Friday and take part in the protest at Democracy Monument. Suthep said those who could not actually stop working should work slowly in an act of disobedience.
He also called on schools, colleges and universities throughout the country to cancel all classes on those days and display banners with messages against the amnesty bill.
Addressing several thousand people at the protest site, Suthep also announced three other measures of disobedience. He urged businesses to delay their corporate tax payments and told people to show their opposition to the government-backed amnesty bill by raising the national flag at home, carrying it with them, or displaying one on their car.
Suthep, a veteran politician of the opposition Democrat Party, suggested that another measure of disobedience was for bill opponents to blow whistles at the prime minister, other Cabinet members and MPs who voted for the amnesty legislation whenever they meet them at a public place.
He also said the protest leaders would welcome any other measure of civil disobedience that is not against the law.
The amnesty bill, passed hastily by the House of Representatives before dawn last Friday, would absolve all offenders of political crimes since 2004, including politicians convicted of corruption and those responsible for severe crimes, such as murder, arson and terrorism.
Suthep also announced last night that he and eight other Democrat MPs had decided to resign their seats to fight alongside the people against “the evil government”. The eight other MPs are Thavorn Senneam, Satit Wongnongtaey, Witthaya Kaewparadai, Issara Somchai, Chumphon Junsai, Puttipong Kunnakan, Ekkanat Promphan and Natthapol Theepsuwan.
Suthep said the resignation would take effect immediately and that he and the other MPs would submit their resignations today.
“If this fight fails, I will never seek a return to the House of Representatives,” he said.
The veteran politician made the announcement after the self-imposed deadline for the government to terminate the amnesty bill by 6pm yesterday had expired.
Suthep opened the so-called “people’s court” to try the Yingluck government. He then asked the gathering protesters for a resolution on whether to keep up their fight until the government “kills the bill”. The protesters gave loud applause and cheers, which were interpreted as “yes” by Suthep.
Earlier yesterday, despite the mounting pressure against his sister’s embattled government, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday instructed the ruling Pheu Thai Party to cling on to power in the hope the opposition-led rally against the amnesty bill would die down soon, a Pheu Thai source said yesterday.
Thaksin, who is believed to be pulling the strings behind the ruling party, disagreed with an idea for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to dissolve the House of Representatives, according to the source.
He believed the anti-amnesty protest, now centring around the Democracy Monument, would fizzle soon after “the funds run out” and the Senate rejects the government-backed amnesty bill. He wanted Pheu Thai MPs to help retain the government’s status quo, the source said.
Ruling politicians presented a number of possible solutions to Thaksin, including House dissolution and the PM’s resignation, but the ex-leader disagreed with those proposals, according to the source.
The party source said Suthep decided during a party discussion yesterday to resign so he could lead the protest without worrying that his role would lead to legal action against the party and to its dissolution.
Initially, the party had resolved to allow Democrat MPs to resign of their own volition. However, with the party worried about the by-elections coming up in 45 days, it decided only a few could resign.
Many more Democrat MPs would resign if the government remains adamant, the Democrat source said.
The political situation negatively affected stocks and the baht yesterday.
The baht fell to a 7-week low at 31.62 per US dollar, weakening by 0.70 from Friday’s closing. The SET index closed at 1,405.91 points.
Traffic congestion in many areas of Bangkok worsened yesterday as anti-amnesty protesters gathered at four locations in inner city areas – Silom, Asoke, Ari and Saphan Kwai – before marching to Democracy Monument, where the main protest site was located.
Many businesses cancelled events scheduled for yesterday and later this week, citing severe traffic congestion in the city and the political situation. They included Charoen Pokphand Foods, Kasikornbank, and Seacon Group.
The Government Housing Bank announced the closure of its two branches near Ratchadamnoen Road from yesterday until tomorrow.
The Thai Chamber of Commerce planned an urgent press conference today about its concern over possible negative impacts on the country’s economy from the ongoing political situation.