Free Newsletters - Space - Defense - Environment - Energy
..
. Medical and Hospital News .




DEMOCRACY
Thai PM refuses to resign amid growing street protests
by Staff Writers
Bangkok (UPI) Dec 2, 2013


disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has rejected demands to resign after protest leaders gave her two days to step down.

Her defiance comes amid continuing violence in the Thai capital Monday that included an attempt by an angry mob to storm her office, the BBC reported.

Yingluck said she is open to talks with the protesters who say she and her government are being controlled by her brother, the exiled and disgraced former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Protesters, who have been on the streets since Nov. 24, want her replaced with a "people's council," the BBC said.

"Anything I can do to make people happy, I am willing to do ... but as prime minister, what I can do must be under the constitution," Yingluck said in a televised address.

"The military has positioned itself as neutral and it wants to see a peaceful way out," she said.

"I believe that no one wants to see a repeat of history, where we saw the people suffer and lose their lives."

Yingluck ruled out early elections, telling the BBC that the country was not calm enough for polls.

Yingluck and her government were elected in national elections in 2011, but her administration has been dogged by accusations that she is a surrogate leader for her brother Thaksin. He was ousted in a bloodless military coup in 2006 that left the country divided.

Anti-government protests have been largely peaceful until deadly clashes with police on Sunday left three people dead in shootings between rival political camps, The New York Times reported.

Increased violence also led to more than 110 people being injured Sunday as about 30,000 people rallied in key locations around the capital. Protesters were met by riot police water cannons and tear gas, the Times reported.

Police also used rubber bullets, and many schools, universities and the main U.N. office have been closed for security, said Paradorn Pattanathabutr, head of Thailand's National Security Council.

The BBC reported military commanders have agreed to deploy troops to support the police on condition they wouldn't carry weapons and only would stand behind riot police ringing the main government offices.

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, who met with Yingluck Sunday to deliver his resignation ultimatum, threatened to close down or occupy more government agencies and departments.

Suthep said the meeting at an undisclosed location was not to negotiate with Yingluck, but to spell out the demands of the protesters People's Democratic Reform Committee that wants a People's Council, The Bangkok Post reported.

"There was no negotiation and no compromise [with Yingluck]," he said. "This is the only one [meeting] and there will be no more until a victory for the people."

Yingluck's current round of troubles began in earnest last month after her government tried but failed to get an amnesty bill passed by both houses Parliament.

She publicly defended the controversial amnesty bill that would have allowed reconciliation for alleged political offenses during and after Thailand's 2006 coup.

The bill, which would have pardoned people, including political leaders, was passed unopposed by the lower House of Representatives but failed to pass the Senate last month, ending the bill's chances of becoming law.

The amnesty likely would have included Thaksin's sentence for corruption, the Post reported at the time.

Thaksin, who led the Pheu Thai party in government -- now his sister's party -- denied the allegations, but was sentenced in 2008 and soon after fled the country.

Yingluck continually denies that she takes orders from her self-exiled brother.

.


Related Links
Democracy in the 21st century at TerraDaily.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle




Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News





DEMOCRACY
Outside View: Reid's power grab is about much more than Senate rules
Ocala, Fla. (UPI) Nov 27, 2013
The U.S. Senate is becoming more and more like the U.S. House of Representatives. Last Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., orchestrated a sweeping rules change. No longer is it necessary that 60 senators confirm an executive branch nominee for administrative and judicial offices. Only a simple majority of 51 is required. All but three Senate Democrats supported R ... read more


DEMOCRACY
Typhoons spread Fukushima fallout, study warns

Philippines says Super Typhoon Haiyan, other storms curb growth

UN to seek more aid for Philippines typhoon displaced

85 people injured in Hong Kong high-speed ferry accident

DEMOCRACY
CIA, Pentagon trying to hinder construction of GLONASS stations in US

GPS 3 Prototype Communicates With GPS Constellation

Russia to enforce GLONASS Over GPS

How pigeons may smell their way home

DEMOCRACY
Study suggests inbreeding shaped course of early human evolution

Investments in Aging Biology Research will Pay Longevity Dividend

Research team discovers 'immune gene' in Neanderthals

Ancient, modern DNA tell story of first humans in the Americas

DEMOCRACY
African elephant survival tops agenda at Botswana talks

India plans new sanctuary to boost tiger numbers

Smaller islands host shorter food chains

Biodiversity higher in the tropics, but species more likely to arise at higher latitudes

DEMOCRACY
Suu Kyi urges 'freedom from fear' on World AIDS Day

New, aggressive HIV strain causes AIDS faster

Is S.Africa's HIV treatment success breeding complacency?

AIDS in South Africa: Grants fight 'sugar daddy' peril

DEMOCRACY
Western masterpieces offered up to Chinese buyers

Communist China restores Chiang Kai-shek's house, and image

China puts another senior official under investigation

Exiled activist repatriated after failed China return bid

DEMOCRACY
Spain jails six Somalis for piracy

Pirates kidnap two American sailors off Nigeria

Seaman Guard owner to fight arrest of ship's crew in India

Somali pirates on trial for seizing French yacht

DEMOCRACY
China home price rises speed up in November: survey

China manufacturing activity eases in November: HSBC

China property firms deny tax-shirking report

More than a million seek China government jobs




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement