Bangkok - Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 82, presided over his coronation day in Bangkok Wednesday, when it was hoped a two-month-old demonstration that has claimed 27 victims would end peacefully.
Bhumibol, accompanied by Queen Sirikit, left Siriraj Hospital to attend a ceremony marking the anniversary of his coronation on May 5, 1950, at the Amarin Throne Hall in Bangkok.
The world's oldest reigning monarch returned to hospital after the ceremony attended by ministers, government officials and diplomats. King Bhumibol has been in hospital since September 19. On several occasions he has left hospital briefly to attend ceremonies and deal with personal affairs.
It was hoped that this Coronation Day would mark the end of a seven-week protest that has rocked the capital and left blood on the streets.
The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) has occupied a prime commercial district in central Bangkok since April 3, demanding Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolve parliament and hold elections.
On Monday, Abhisit announced new elections for November 14. He also laid out a five-point proposal aimed at easing years of political upheaval marked by lengthy street protests, a military coup and a deepening social divide.
The UDD accepted Abhisit's proposal in principle on Tuesday, but refused to send its thousands of followers home until the prime minister sets a specific date for dissolving parliament.
"The prime minister feels that naming the dissolution day is unnecessary because he has already said polls will be held on November 14, which means parliament must be dissolved 45 to 60 days beforehand," government spokesman Panitan Wattanayakorn said.
According to Thai law, Abhisit must dissolve parliament between mid-September and October 1 if the polls are on November 14. His term was slated to end in December 2011.
The first step of Abhisit's proposal called for a commitment by all sides to uphold the monarchy, and prevent it from being drawn into politics.
The protest, the first popular uprising against the establishment since the communist threat of the 1960s and 70s, highlighted issues of class struggle, income disparity, injustice and the role of the centuries-old monarchy.
The UDD has been drawing between 5,000 and 10,000 supporters daily to its main protest site, an upmarket commercial district.
The demonstrators have barricaded themselves behind rubber tires, barbed wire and sharpened bamboo stakes, and a military crackdown would lead to heavy casualties, observers said.
Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/322063,protestors-stay-put-in-bangkok-on-coronation-day--summary.html.
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