Thailand: protesters undeterred by promises of fresh elections

(Vatican Radio) A day after Thailand's prime minister called a snap election, she says she plans to remain in office until the poll takes place. But anti-government protestors said they will not wait and continued to demand that she leave office. Alastair Wanklyn is monitoring the story and filed this report:



The Thai prime minister rejected demands that she resign, saying Thailand needs a caretaker leader and she plans to stay in office until early elections two months from now. But the strain of the past few weeks apparently showed, as Yingluck Shinawatra appeared to break down, saying...
the attacks now are personal -- against her and her family. She appealed for even-handedness, saying she had made so many concessions she doesn't know what more she can do.

But on the streets of Bangkok thousands anti-government protestors continued to demand that she quit and replace the post of prime minister with an appointed committee.

Outside Bangkok, the government is popular and the protestors believe the party would return to power in the election promised in early February.

Analysts continue to see the standoff as representing a split in Thai society, between urban traders and the rural poor, the support base of Yingluck's party. And, commentators say, the protestors' demands are difficult to meet, so Thailand risks unrest if the standoff continues.


For Vatican Radio, Alastair Wanklyn reporting