BANGKOK, Thailand\u2014Gunshots rang out in the heart of Thailand\u2019s capital overnight in an apparent attack on anti-government protesters early Wednesday that wounded at least two people and ratcheted up tensions in Thailand\u2019s deepening political crisis.<\/p>\n
The city\u2019s emergency services office said one man was hit in the ankle and a woman was hit in the arm in the shooting, which occurred on a street leading to one of Bangkok\u2019s glitziest shopping districts that has been occupied by camping demonstrators trying to bring down Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra\u2019s government since Monday.<\/p>\n
Most of the city has been unaffected by the protests and Bangkok was calm Wednesday, but the attack was the latest in a string of violent incidents this month that have kept the vast metropolis of 12 million people on edge and fueled fears the nation\u2019s deadlock could spiral out of control.<\/p>\n
Sompong Pongsattha, a 56-year-old resident who witnessed the shooting in the Pathumwan district, said about 30 gunshots were fired from an unknown location toward a protest barricade over the course of about two hours. He said only a few demonstrators were there at the time, and the wounded woman had to be carried to another intersection to be taken to a hospital.<\/p>\n
In another incident overnight, a small explosive device was hurled into a residential compound owned by former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, shattering windows and slightly damaging a roof, according to Police Col. Chumpol Phumphuang and Abhisit\u2019s opposition Democrat Party. No injuries were reported, and Abhisit\u2014who resigned from Parliament last month to join protesters\u2014was not home at the time.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Southeast Asian\u00a0nation\u2019s latest bout of unrest began late last year and Yingluck has tried to ease it by dissolving Parliament and calling for elections on Feb. 2. There are growing doubts that the vote will take place, however, and both protesters and the main opposition Democrat Party are calling for a boycott. Yingluck\u2019s opponents are demanding she step aside so an interim, non-elected government can take over and implement reforms before any new poll is held.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, however, Yingluck insisted she wouldn\u2019t quit while the protesters reiterated vows not to negotiate, leaving the country\u2019s political crisis firmly deadlocked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve stressed many times I have a duty to act according to my responsibility after the dissolution of Parliament,\u201d Yingluck told reporters. \u201cI\u2019d like to say right now I am not holding on (to my position) but I have to keep political stability. I\u2019m doing my duty to preserve democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yingluck proposed to meet Wednesday with various groups\u2014including her opponents\u2014to discuss a proposal from the Election Commission to postpone the February vote. But protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, the Democrats and even the Election Commission has refused to take part.<\/p>\n
Yingluck said all sides need to discuss reform because \u201cthe country is in pain and the people are suffering.\u201d<\/p>\n
Protesters accuse her government of corruption and misrule, and for being the puppet of her older brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He was toppled by the army in a peaceful coup in 2006 and lives in self-imposed exile to avoid jail time for a corruption conviction.<\/p>\n
The poor majority in Thailand\u2019s countryside, however, broadly support Thaksin and his family because of the populist policies he implemented, including virtually free health care.<\/p>\n
Ever since Thaksin\u2019s overthrow, the two sides have been dueling for power, sometimes violently. At least eight people have been killed and injured more than 450 since the latest unrest began late last year. Since Jan. 6, there have also been several shootings against protesters that have wounded at least 10 people.<\/p>\n
The International Crisis Group think-tank said this week that the protests risked sparking violence that could be \u201cdesigned to instigate a coup.\u201d<\/p>\n
The country\u2019s army chief has pointedly refused to rule out a military takeover\u2014always a possibility in a country that has suffered 11 coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no clear way out,\u201d Crisis Group said. \u201cBut there are ways to render a bad situation potentially catastrophic … Thailand needs leadership to generate the truly inclusive national dialogue required to set it on a stable path.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yingluck\u2019s opponents know she would win another election, and have called for an unelected \u201cpeople\u2019s council\u201d to amend laws to fight corruption in politics and institute other reforms, while an appointed prime minister would help administer the country for up to two years.<\/p>\n
Suthep, who has taken to the protest stage with fiery rhetoric nearly every day for weeks, called on supporters to shut down all government offices and cut water and electricity to the private residences of Yingluck and her Cabinet \u201cin the next two or three days.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they are still being obstinate, then we will capture them one by one because the people are not interested in fighting for years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Suthep, who is wanted by police on charges of insurrection, issued a similar call in late November, urging supporters to seize \u201cevery ministry.\u201d But the protesters were too few in number and only managed to briefly occupy several government offices and the Finance Ministry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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