Tensions escalate in Bangkok as protests continue

TENSIONS remained high in Bangkok yesterday after grenade explosions wounded two soldiers at a Thai military base as thousands of anti-government protesters gathered at another barracks on the outskirts of the city.

It was unclear who was behind the attack or whether it was directly linked to the protests by supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who wear red shirts and have been calling for prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to step down and allow fresh elections.

“Abhisit, get out. Elite, get out” they chanted at demonstrations in the capital, with their numbers swelling at times to 150,000. The prevailing mood is one of uncertainty, although Thailand has become used to a high degree of political uncertainty in recent years, underscored by a broad support for King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Col Nattawat Attanibutt said an initial investigation showed the grenades were fired into the compound with a M-79 grenade launcher from outside the base on Viphavadi-Rangsit Road. The soldiers were hospitalised.

“One received injuries in the abdomen and the other was wounded in the arm,” Col Nattawat said.

The attack took place not long after Mr Abhisit rejected demands by the red-shirts to dissolve parliament and call fresh elections by midday.

Mr Thaksin’s supporters would most likely win the election, and the protesters are planning to dump their own blood outside Mr Abhisit’s office as a sign of their anger at his rejection of their demands for an election.

Members of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship will leave the blood at Mr Abhisit’s party headquarters and residence over the next three days. Mr Abhisit is backed by the powerful military and establishment elite, mostly based in Bangkok, while Mr Thaksin’s power base is in the northeast of the country, Thailand’s poorest region and home to a third of its 66 million people. In contrast, Mr Abhisit’s support comes from the military, urban elite and royalists – who wear yellow at protests.

The yellow-shirts were behind the occupation of the capital’s airports in 2008 but no one was ever punished for the occupations, which has angered many in the Thaksin camp. Mr Thaksin has co-ordinated protests from Dubai and other countries, including bitter rival Cambodia.

In an address on national television, Mr Abhisit said the time was not right for an election. His grip on power is looking increasingly shaky. He came to power pledging to resolve the conflicts among the Thai people, but tensions have, if anything, hardened since the Oxbridge-educated leader came to power.

Thailand has been dealing with political uncertainty since Mr Thaksin was removed from office in a coup in 2006. He has been convicted of corruption and is living in exile.

Thai courts have disbanded the pro-Thaksin parties that won the past two elections.

Mr Abhisit’s Democrat party has not won the most seats in a nationwide vote since 1992. He must call an election by the end of next year.