Bangkok (AsiaNews / Agencies) - This morning at least 1000 "red shirts" - supporters of exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra - stormed Parliament, demanding the dissolution of government and new elections. The Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, at the centre of the controversy and held partly responsible for the current political crisis in Thailand, has apparently demanded the army chief consider "all possible measures" to maintain law and order. However, the military "firmly" excludes the possibility of using force to disperse demonstrators.
After weeks of siege, the "red shirts", close to the antigovernment movement United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), stormed the complex that houses the Thai Parliament, using a truck to break through the entrance gates. Another group of protesters was instead directed towards the Imperial World Mall, home to the People Channel TV, close to the "red shirts" to prevent the possible closure by order of the executive.
The demonstrators, supporters of exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, expelled in 2006 after a coup, are calling for the resignation of the Prime Minister, the dissolution of parliament and early elections.
Anupong Paojinda, army chief "firmly" rules out the use of force to disperse the "red shirts". Sources within the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (Cape) report that "there are currently no grounds to intervene and disperse the protesters." People close to the general explain that a military coup would result in "loss of lives," an inadmissible case because "they are all Thai”.
Meanwhile, criticism of the Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is becoming increasingly strong. He is seen as unable to resolve the political crisis that as hit the country for weeks and is impacting on the national economy, despite the upturn in the global financial crisis.
Several columnists are wondering if the Thai Prime Minister is losing the confrontation with the demonstrators. More importantly, experts on domestic policy stress that the government seems to have lost the support of the army and police, two essential institutions for maintaining power in Thailand.
In recent weeks, foreign investors have poured over $ 1.6 billion into the Thai financial market, an 80% increase on last year. Bangkok marks the third best data in all Asia. In the long run, however, the political crisis will have an impact on the economy, especially long-term foreign direct investment (FDI).