PM cancels election date, army closes in on protest site

AFP - Thailand's army warned Thursday it would seal off a protest site in the capital with armoured vehicles, turning up the heat on defiant "Red Shirts" as the premier shelved a plan for early elections.
   
Hopes were fading of an imminent resolution to a crippling two-month crisis that has sparked several outbreaks of deadly unrest and brought parts of the capital to a standstill.
   
"I have cancelled the election date... because protesters refuse to disperse," Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters. "I have told security officials to restore normalcy as soon as possible."
   
An army spokesman said security forces would surround the anti-government protest site in the heart of Bangkok with armoured vehicles from 6:00 pm (1100 GMT) to prevent people entering the area.
   
The planned move was announced after authorities failed to carry out a threat to cut off utilities to the protesters at midnight Wednesday although Abhisit said Thursday that the action would still go ahead.
   
The embattled premier had offered to dissolve parliament in the second half of

Automatic transcript welcome back to the nation it's time for file cuts -- anti government demonstrators are in the streets of Thailand's capsule buying Coke for fourth consecutive day -- they're known as the Red shots and they're pushing for the government led by Prime Minister Abbas which touch you ought to step down -- the part six two can dissolve twist would demonstrate to hold their own blood at the Gates of the government's headquarters on Tuesday -- the Knicks you minutes we'll look closer at food the protests is off -- and also what their next move may be off to the blood that scene and simple make sacrifice -- now many of the protesters are supporters of the former Prime Minister's talks in Chennai walks -- who was ousted in a military coup in tea thousand six -- his main support base is among the rural population in Northern Thailand -- but as this report shows their ranks also include other pilots of Thai society Tuesday evening in pain -- the second ultimatum issued to the government has just expired -- Richards are getting ready to launch its second offense our latest solo sickened pledged towards sounds and buy the railroad and something is also remains G will be going -- she's a student who supports the Richards movements James Wood eight they and things and we can end it did -- incomes -- it only against I'm I'm and I'm glad that now he says -- do have a lot of things cool while also obvious in Jintao Saturday Sheehan also on Avenue and maligned doesn't and what me up by eighteen point in time we catch up with the pack of demonstrate traffic is blocked leaving no choice but to continue on to it with Steven with the crowds converging towards the headquarters of the Prime Minister's Democratic party -- the atmosphere is firmly we meet all sorts of some F and and I think that thanks that the crowd gets bigger and bigger pensions spreading out over several Columbus -- security forces were everywhere -- we watch don't in this color or a nurse in students -- people donated their call -- the Prime Minister's headquarters pursuing some we months and the suffering of the people of this despite solid sheets in Sydney both sentence support within now people strong I wanted to win -- as night falls on Bangkok of Richard's blood protest is about to begin far from last year's scenes of chaos -- Thailand's Richards may have proven once it now become a full fledged political force of their own -- that could have an influence on the country's future right joining me now for more is Antonio Ferrara from the national University of Singapore -- he's old there of a book on Thai politics cold Thailand on pinched -- also with us today we have our own correspondent Nelson round who's in call can if we start with you Nelson -- if we look at a make up all the protest as you get the impression from the reports that there are people from all walks of life NASA students and businessmen as well -- is the after picture yes it is certainly the movement is not just about taxing -- yes he is the figurehead leader yes the vast majority of the people support taxing -- but the movement has also attracted a large following of people who are genuinely angry at the U turn the Thai politics has taken over the past several years -- they're angry at the military two of two thousand six -- there's people that I genuinely believe that Thai democracy is being undermined by powerful unelected figures -- know at the height of this current protest on Sunday those probably between a hundred and a hundred and fifty thousand red shirt protesters out on the street -- but the movement support base is much much greater than that last year the movement collected three point five million signatures -- in an effort to get a royal pardon for tax and -- some people call it the largest pro democracy forces in Asia -- yes it is pro attacks in -- but they're larger campaign is to really see a change in Thai society -- and bring an end to Thailand's long standing elite -- bureaucratic rule if we go over to Antonio there in Singapore what's your take on this well one of the grievance is all of these protesters with the government why do they want the government to to step down well I think the main problem that everybody can agree with this that at least within the movement is that the current government came to power of through means that are of dubious legitimacy -- so all of them want the current Prime Minister to resign but most of most components of the movement have an agenda that goes way beyond that as your correspondent mentioned -- some people wanna bring back tucks into a position of power he occupied legitimately -- after winning two elections with President of margins -- and other people still want Thailand to embark finally on on a process to genuine democracy action and to finally get these unelected institutions like the military -- and the pretty council out of politics once and for all Antonio from your perspective how long could these protests continue -- we're hearing today the the protest numbers have dwindled to the that this Wednesday -- do you think that this movement is running out of steam I think the demonstrations in their current form -- are not likely to last more than a few more days but whether or not they achieve their short term girl goals -- I think we can expect this movement to continue its struggle for monster com -- if not years if you go over to Nelson by Coke again -- what's next hit for these for these protesters and for this protest movement well organizers planning at this stage well the protest leaders have yet to announce what their next stage will be -- they have insisted throughout these protested that -- as long as the government doesn't meet their demands and step down the table -- that step up their campaign -- but certainly it does appear that the are losing steam -- the numbers are dwindling significantly -- and the worry now is that their numbers dwindle and as they leave scheme perhaps they will be trying more up provocative or daring tactics -- egg and at with the numbers dwindling now it's more of a hard core supporters left so there is concern that perhaps it if they do step it up and try more provocative tactics that they could turn violent Nelson what about the army and how is entering into this equation is so far the army has moved -- the stayed on the sidelines this their arrest perhaps the army could could step into this funding at the moment -- the Prime Minister I do that did you -- he has the strong backing of the military -- and that is essential for his government to survive in at this point -- it appears that the military will keep backing happy said -- and that is again a crucial for his government to survive and as long as the military is backing him -- it is unlikely that he will meet that the demands of the protesters and step down if recall on notes to Antonio in Singapore again -- G think that the army will keep backing Mr. Abbas that gather -- there were some rumors in over the past couple of months that the army might have been considering staging a cool but -- I think under the circumstances -- their continued support for obviously it is to be expected in the sense that Abi it puts a rather benign face too what is for all intents and purposes an authoritarian regime -- and so whether or not he's been as a certain as they would like him to be I think he's their best bet for the time being -- all right thanks very much and Tony for our error joining us that from Singapore also a big thanks to Nelson Bryant -- who is with us for all the time capsule without we're gonna wrap up focus now hit Paul Stein kept stay with us more news coming your way in just a moment FRANCE24 Focus - 'Who are Thailand's Red Shirts?'

September for elections on November 14 if all parties accepted his reconciliation plan.
   
The Reds, who have been protesting in Bangkok for two months in a campaign for early elections, initially agreed to enter the process but efforts to reach a deal that would see them go home have since broken down.
   
The movement says it will not disperse until Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban is charged for his role in overseeing an April 10 crackdown that left 25 people dead, including 20 protesters.
   
Red Shirt leader Weng Tojirakarn said Thursday that scrapping the election and dissolution of parliament was a betrayal of the Thai public.
   
"The government has committed political suicide if there is no election," he said on a stage at the Reds' fortified camp in a retail district, where several shopping centres and upscale hotels have been forced to close temporarily.
   
Another Red Shirt leader, Nattawut Saikuar, said that while the protesters remained committed to the election and dissolution, "justice" was their number one priority.
   
"Justice for more than 20 of our people who lost their lives is most important while dissolution and election are a very small issue," he said.
   
The Reds, whose heartland is in the impoverished rural northeast, say the government is undemocratic because it came to power in a 2008 parliamentary vote after a court ruling ousted elected allies of their hero, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was unseated in a 2006 coup.
   
Twenty-nine people have been killed and almost 1,000 injured in Bangkok in a series of confrontations and attacks since the protests began in mid-March. It is Thailand's worst political violence in almost two decades.
   
Arrest warrants have been issued for many of the top protest leaders and observers say disagreement between the two sides over a possible amnesty is likely to be one of the main sticking points.
   
Weng denounced the government threats to cut off food, water and power supplies to the rally site where thousands have set up camp.
   
He called on more protesters to join the rally, and challenged the military to go ahead with a crackdown, saying "if you want another 300, or 3,000 dead bodies please come, but Thailand will be not be the same."
   
In an editorial, the Bangkok Post said cutting off water and power would be unlikely to have any effect on the protesters -- except perhaps to harden their resolve -- but would hurt "the numerous innocent residents, businesses, schools and embassies in the area."