Thailand turmoil ‘under control’

After an Easter of political protests on the streets of Bangkok, Thailand’s Prime Minister said last night that the situation was under control. Dozens were hurt in a series of skirmishes, while the government said one local resident died after a clash with demonstrators yesterday evening.

Thailand's prime minister told the BBC that troops have brought Bangkok under control after a day of battles with anti-government protesters.He added: "If the people want to demonstrate peacefully, if they want to exercise their constitutional rights they are welcome to do so, but they cannot riot, they cannot incite people to break the law, they cannot intimidate and use violence against other people." Earlier, Mr Abhisit said 70 people had been injured, including 23 soldiers.

Abhisit Vejjajiva, the prime minister, declared a state of emergency on Easter Sunday after the anti-government protests forced the cancellation of a major meeting of Asian leaders in the Thai resort, Pattaya. But Army spokesperson Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said soldiers were not firing real bullets in yesterday’s clashes. "If the protesters show that they intend to hurt the officials, we will use military training rifles on them with blank bullets made from paper, which will not hurt the protesters."

Thailand has been gripped by a paralysing political crisis centred on former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. When Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva was chosen as prime minister in December, some Thais hoped the protests had finally come to an end.Mr Thaksin was ousted from office in a military coup in September 2006, and the tug-of-war between his supporters and opponents has continued ever since. The rural poor still has widespread support for Mr Thaksin who benefited from the populist policies he framed during his five years in power. His supporters call themselves the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD). The UDD says Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva came to power illegitimately and is a puppet of the military. It wants Mr Abhisit to resign and call fresh elections. Mr Thaksin told the BBC last night: "The situation in Thailand is of very brutal suppression." And he clarified his previous call to supporters for a revolution, saying he meant a "peaceful revolution". "All the protesters come with bare hands, they come with peace, they are asking for a true democracy for all," he said, although he did acknowledge that some had "sticks and stones".

By Hayley Jarvis for SOS Children