Parliament shuts down as protesters take to the streets

THOUSANDS of anti-government protesters took to the streets of Thai capital Bangkok yesterday, forcing Parliament to shut down in what activists called their “final showdown” to oust an allegedly corrupt administration.

Parliament postponed a joint session of both houses after protesters surrounded its gates and reportedly cut electricity to the building. House Speaker Chai Chidchob said the session would be rescheduled “when the situation returns to normal”.

Despite fiery declarations that yesterday’s action would be their “longest day”, a leader of the anti-government group — which calls itself the People’s Alliance for Democracy — told followers to step up their protest efforts further today.

“Tomorrow is going to be more intense,” Chamlong Srimuang said to supporters at the group’s stronghold at the prime minister’s office, which it has occupied since late August. “We request that you sleep well tonight to save your energy.”

Political tensions have been simmering since 2006, when a similar protest campaign against then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra led to him being deposed by a military coup. They heated up with the current effort to force Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to step down. The protesters accuse him of acting as a proxy for Thaksin, his brother-in-law.

The state planning agency said Thailand’s economy grew at its slowest pace in more than three years, taking a double hit in the third quarter from the political turmoil and the global financial crisis.

“Major services sectors such as manufacturing, hotels and restaurants, transport and communications, and wholesale and retail trade” showed slowed growth, said a report by the National Economic & Social Development Board.

Riot police barricaded Parliament with metal barriers and stood guard inside the compound.

Protest leaders say their goal is to block the government from functioning. The demonstrators called the protest to block Parliament from debating constitutional amendments that they say would help Thaksin stage a comeback.