Bangkok
29 May 2008
Thailand's top military commander says he cannot guarantee there will not be another coup after political tensions flared up in the country again this week. VOA's Luis Ramirez reports from Bangkok.
Thaksin - who faces corruption charges - is banned from politics. His allies regained control of the government in the December elections and are now trying to change the constitution to protect Thaksin supporters from prosecution. Thaksin opponents have been demonstrating against the changes.
A number of people were injured last Sunday when both sides clashed during street demonstrations in Bangkok. Thaksin opponents are planning new protests for Friday.
Political analyst Giles Ungphakorn at Chulalongkorn University notes that recent conditions resemble those leading up to the coup nearly two years ago, but cautions against speculation.
"The coup in 2006 was possible because there were widespread demonstrations, at a peak 200,000 people on the streets. The government was paralyzed, and there were calls from calls from many sections of civil society for a coup d'etat," he said. "We are not seeing that right now."
The tensions have nonetheless raised concerns among investors in Thailand, which was until recently one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia. The Thai stock market plunged Wednesday and continued to drop Thursday.