Protests Continue in Bangkok, Thailand
- 14 years ago
Thailand’s ongoing political crisis is causing tension between two opposing groups. The pro-government yellow-shirts and the anti-government red-shirts are taking matters into their own hands.
On Thursday, about 300 yellow-shirt protesters went to the Prime Minister’s command center in Bangkok to demand that he take a tougher stance against the red-shirts.
The leaders of the yellow-shirted People's Alliance for Democracy handed a statement to a government spokesperson amid tight security.
Meanwhile, the red-shirts insisted that talks between protesters and the government should be held soon to end the political turmoil.
[Pakdee Tanapura, Anti-government Protester]: (English)
"Everything boils down to negotiation and negotiation should start very soon because European countries know very well that we are on the verge of civil war and that negotiation is extremely urgent."
The red-shirts also gathered at Bangkok's EU headquarters and called for their help, as tension rose between the two opposing parties.
The EU ambassador in Thailand is concerned over Thailand's political crisis.
[Suvi Seppalainen, Spokesperson, EU Ambassador in Thailand]: (English)
"The EU remains deeply concerned about the state of affairs in Thailand and regret all casualties. He (EU ambassador David Lipman) called for respect for the rule of law, constructive dialogue and a negotiated solution to the current political crisis peaceful and democratic means."
The red-shirts have vowed to prolong their protests at Bangkok's shopping district where they have occupied for almost four weeks.
Hopes of a deal to end the violence faded after Thailand’s Prime Minister rejected a red-shirt proposal for an election in three months.
On Thursday, about 300 yellow-shirt protesters went to the Prime Minister’s command center in Bangkok to demand that he take a tougher stance against the red-shirts.
The leaders of the yellow-shirted People's Alliance for Democracy handed a statement to a government spokesperson amid tight security.
Meanwhile, the red-shirts insisted that talks between protesters and the government should be held soon to end the political turmoil.
[Pakdee Tanapura, Anti-government Protester]: (English)
"Everything boils down to negotiation and negotiation should start very soon because European countries know very well that we are on the verge of civil war and that negotiation is extremely urgent."
The red-shirts also gathered at Bangkok's EU headquarters and called for their help, as tension rose between the two opposing parties.
The EU ambassador in Thailand is concerned over Thailand's political crisis.
[Suvi Seppalainen, Spokesperson, EU Ambassador in Thailand]: (English)
"The EU remains deeply concerned about the state of affairs in Thailand and regret all casualties. He (EU ambassador David Lipman) called for respect for the rule of law, constructive dialogue and a negotiated solution to the current political crisis peaceful and democratic means."
The red-shirts have vowed to prolong their protests at Bangkok's shopping district where they have occupied for almost four weeks.
Hopes of a deal to end the violence faded after Thailand’s Prime Minister rejected a red-shirt proposal for an election in three months.