Thai protesters force government to switch speech venue

Thailand’s government was forced to change the venue of its key policy speech today as thousands of demonstrators loyal to exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra surrounded Parliament, extending months of political turmoil.

Several hundred protesters also blocked the Foreign Ministry, where the government and politicians moved to deliver the policy statement.

As proceedings began inside, police and protesters confronted each other. Some ministry staffers were seen climbing small ladders to get over a fence to flee the compound.

The protesters, vowing to ring the Parliament building until their demands for new general elections are met, prevented the government from delivering its mandated policy speech yesterday. The government said it would try to peacefully end the blockade.

The standoff comes less than a month after the last government was forced from office following six months of demonstrations that culminated in the eight-day seizure of Bangkok’s two main airports.

The earlier protesters had been part of an anti-Thaksin alliance.

“I hope the prime minister can deliver the government’s policy today. However, the government has strictly ordered police not to use violent force against the protesters. We don’t want to start our government’s work with violence,” Deputy Prime Minister Thaugsuban told local television stations.

One of the protest leaders, Chakrapob Penkhair, said the demonstrators were not barring entry to the Parliament building.

“We still insist that the PM and parliament members should walk through us to get in. We guarantee their safety. By walking in, we can have a talk with him,” he said.

“We will keep negotiating and mediating,” Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told supporters. “I beg everyone, including all the politicians and officials, to dedicate our (New Year) holiday for the country in order to move our country forward.”

The third prime minister in four months, Mr Abhisit was formally named prime minister on December 17 in what many hoped would be the end of months of turbulent, sometimes violent, protests.

However, his party – which had been in opposition since 2001 – heads a coalition that some analysts doubt is strong enough to last until the next general election in 2011.