Thousands of demonstrators occupy the seat of government and demand the departure of prime minister, accused of electoral fraud.
The state of emergency was declared yesterday in Bangkok, a few hours after the violent clashes between supporters and opponents of Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. Meanwhile, thousands of people continued to occupy government headquarters to demand his resignation.
This is the worst incidents of its kind in 16 years. There were around the headquarters of the Executive and led the police to shoot and ask for help to the Army. One person died and 44 others were injured, three of them by gunshot fire, according to the National Emergency Center.
Supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which maintains occupied the headquarters of the executive since August 26, blocked the entrances to the airport. They had to be cancelled all flights. The terminal is located 730 kilometres south of the Thai capital.
The Bangkok Stock Exchange yesterday fell 2.3% after the government decree of a state of emergency.
Amid the crisis, the Thai Army ruled out the option of a military coup or the use of violence against demonstrators, after which Samak Sundaravej announced so far and that the country's Electoral Commission recommended the dissolution of the ruling Party of Power People (PPP) by fraud.
"The door (a coup) is closed," said the head of the army, Anupong Paojinda. "We must find other ways, such as the courts or Parliament, to solve the trouble."
Shortly before, the head of the Thai Government had defended the entry into force of a state of emergency in Bangkok. "In this situation had to find a way out," said the Prime Minister to the press. "I have the duty to resolve the country's problems and every party involved is assisting. Life is still quite normal."
Several hundred policemen marched into the city along with 400 soldiers. The measure will apply only to the capital and is expected to last only a couple of days, said Samak.
The leader announced in the morning a state of emergency in a speech on TV, and the measure came into effect immediately, then that army troops were called to restore order around Government House, which is occupied by Demonstrators of the PAD.
The state of emergency decree, which was approved last year, when Thailand was under an interim government appointed by the military, not allowed to meet more than five people for a protest and authorizes the authorities to arrest those who disobey. Thousands of protesters ignored the order and remained occupied for the eighth consecutive day the seat of government. The opposition accused the Prime Minister of incompetence, demanding immediate resignation again at their own expense.
A national strike
The main trade union centre in Thailand, comprising 43 unions and 200 000 workers affiliated with, convened on Monday a strike from today in support of the demonstrators.
Trade unions of workers in companies providing public services threatened to suspend them from today if not resignation Sundaravej.
The local currency, the baht, fell against the dollar. Yesterday the U.S. currency was quoted at 34.47 baht against 34.32 the previous day.
