Foreign Correspondence

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Thailand faces public sector strikes as protest continues
Wed Sep 3, 2008

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai public sector trade unions called for strikes on Wednesday, a day after the embattled prime minister imposed emergency rule in the capital and ordered the army to end months of anti-government protests.

Thousands of opposition protesters continued their sit-in at Prime Minister Samak's
Sundaravej's official compound, vowing to continue their campaign until he resigns.

But Bangkok was calm on Wednesday after clashes early on Tuesday between pro- and anti-government supporters left one man dead and 45 injured, leading Samak to turn to the army to control the unrest.

The army has said it will not use force to evict protesters.

Traffic was light in the city of 10 million people because of the threat of public transport being disrupted by strikes. Also, schools remained closed for a second day following the imposition of the emergency.

In what the Bangkok Post newspaper headlined a "first hint of compromise", Sondhi Limthongkul, one of the leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), said the months-long crisis that has paralyzed the government could not be resolved unless Samak left office.

"They must accept the four-point demand, and only if the prime minister is either Somchai Wongsawat or Surapong Suebwonglee," he told the newspaper, referring to Samak's education minister and finance minister respectively.

It was not immediately clear why the two men were acceptable to the opposition.

Sondhi said the government must promise not to amend the constitution; must
suspend all large infrastructure projects; commit to political reform, and; accept a
court decision on a temple located on land in Cambodia claimed by some in Thailand.

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSBKK12612220080903