IUSY-AP & YPSEA Statement on Political Crisis in Thailand

Statement on Political Crisis in Thailand

15.05.2010

We are deeply concerned about political unrest in Thailand regarding the event on 13 May 2010, the Center for Resolution of the Emergency Situation has announced the measures to 'increase the pressures against the Red-Shirt demonstrations' and cut off all commuting routes around the demonstration area. This includes ceasing all public bus, boat, elevated rail (BTS), electricity, street lights, water, blocking all mobile phone signals in the area. At the evening of the same day, the Emergency Act was extended to 17 more provinces in the Central, North and Northeast of Thailand to control the area and block any support coming in from the provinces.

At late night of the same day, at least one Red-Shirt protestors was killed in firing by the army. M79 was shot in Silom area, causing around 20 protestors to be injured. Armored personnel carriers and snipers, sharpshooters all with live bullets are employed to execute in this mission. This use of heavy weapons already causes the violence from the government for the past one month.

On 14 May 2010, the fatal clashes between armed soldiers and civilians began at King Rama IX Road. The clashes have been going on until now and spread out around the center of Bangkok.

Now the situation is getting worse and worse, the numbers of dead people are increasing every hour. The Government officially announced 35 dead and 239 wounded including 5 journalists. Thailand's political unrest has now left at least 47 people dead and more than 1,400 wounded.

This tragedy is a phenomenon of the rapid change of Thailand that brought about complexity in the society. Red Shirts are a result of the big gaps between the rich and the poor, between the urban and the rural people. The conflicts have been rooted at different stages, from national down to family level. Long term solution needs to be created by reconciliation and collaboration among different actors. However, immediate actions need to be taken now to safe life of everyone.

We, Young Socialists strongly condemn any use of violence against innocent people. We also strongly condemn any threaten of media freedom, it is not the way that democratic country would do.

We demand that Thai government must immediately stop using heavy weapons, dissolve the parliament and hold the new election as soon as possible. To be genuinely democratic, the military and the elite must not intervene nor wage coup d'etat; the people should be given due space for political participation.

We appeal that Red shirts leaders and demonstrators do not fight back the troops since the government will claim that it is legitimate massacre. The confrontation must be stopped and both sides must go back to negotiation now.

All related issues involved with death and destruction should be investigated with transparency and same standard by independent agency.

We urge the international community and the media to put pressure to the Thai government in stopping the violence and coercion to its people and focus on long-term social redress and action toward political reconciliation and stability.

Thailand needs political and social reform for its long term development, ending the current violence and looming dictatorship that wil pave the way for real democracy and lasting peace.