Political crisis in Thailand 2013-14

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Anti-government gathering at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok on the evening of November 30, 2013
Protesters on December 1, 2013

From October 2013, the Thai opposition organized mass protests against the Thai government under Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra . The trigger was the controversial draft of an amnesty law, which has since been rejected by the Thai Senate . From January 13th to March 2nd, 2014, parts of the capital were closed by the demonstrators under the motto “Shutdown Bangkok”. On May 7, 2014, the Constitutional Court removed the Prime Minister and several cabinet members from their offices. On May 20, the Army Commander in Chief, General Prayuth Chan-ocha , declared martial law. Two days later, he staged a coup and placed the country under direct military rule.

background

Political conflict since 2005

The entrepreneur and billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra won the 2001 parliamentary elections with his newly founded Thai-Rak-Thai Party (TRT) and became Prime Minister. After his re-election in 2005, the People's Alliance for Democracy was formed (known colloquially as the “yellow shirts”), which accused him of abusing power for his own benefit and of overly concentrating power. Their demonstrations grew to mass protests in the spring of 2006. There was a constitutional crisis. In September 2006, the military staged a coup . It set up a non-partisan transitional government that held office for about a year, as well as a body that drew up a new constitution .

In subsequent new elections in December 2007, the People's Power Party , a replacement organization for the now defunct TRT of the supporters of Thaksin, won. Against the government she had formed there were renewed protests by the “yellow shirts”, who accused her of being a mere puppet of Thaksin, who fled the prosecution abroad, and of having won the election simply by buying votes . They besieged the government building and in October 2008 occupied both Bangkok airports. Violent clashes broke out between the “yellow shirts”, security forces and supporters of the government organized as the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), the so-called movement of the “red shirts”.

A ruling by the Constitutional Court in December 2008 dissolved the People's Power Party for violating electoral law, thus putting an end to the government. After some members of the governing parties lost their seats as a result of the verdict, the parliament elected the former opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva from the Democratic Party as head of government. Against this protested the “red shirts”, who regarded the government as illegitimate because it did not come to power through elections. Violent unrest broke out in both 2009 and 2010, each of which was suppressed by the military, with around 90 “red shirts” and bystanders killing in May 2010. The early elections in July 2011 were won by the Pheu Thai Party , the current third incarnation of the TRT under the leadership of Thaksin's younger sister Yingluck Shinawatra . She then became Prime Minister. In December 2012, murder charges were brought against former Prime Minister Abhisit and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban (also Democratic Party) for shooting an innocent taxi driver fatally during the rioting in May 2010.

Previous protests against the government

There have been several protests against the government of Yingluck by groups critical of the government, which are also against the continued influence of the Shinawatra family and their network. In October and November 2012, the Pitak Siam (“Protect Siam”) group led by retired General Boonlert Kaewprasit demonstrated. In May 2013, the group “Thai Spring”, which referred to the Arab Spring , appeared, from June 2013 the group “V for Thailand”, which took up the symbolism of the Occupy movement with white Guy Fawkes masks . From August 2013, the “People's Democratic Force to Overthrow Thaksinism” (Pefot) and the “Dharma Army” (the political arm of the Buddhist-ascetic Santi-Asoke sect) camped in a part of Lumphini Park in central Bangkok.

In August and September 2013 there were violent protests by rubber farmers in southern Thailand. They accused the government of insufficient commitment to their interests in the face of ever-falling market prices. They repeatedly occupied important road junctions and railway lines in the southern region. In the province of Prachuap Khiri Khan there were violent clashes of protesters with the police. The opposition Democrats, who represent almost all constituencies in the south, declared their solidarity with the rubber farmers. Further resistance against the government came from opponents of the planned Mae Wong Dam in Nakhon Sawan, who carried out a protest march from Kamphaeng Phet Province to Bangkok in September 2013 .

Attempt to change the constitution

A government project that had been pursued for a long time was a reform of the Thai constitution in 2007. The core element was to change the composition of the Senate . So far, 77 of the 150 senators have been elected directly in the provinces, while the rest are chosen by a selection committee made up primarily of lawyers. According to the government's draft, the latter should also be replaced by directly elected senators. The opposition strictly rejected this. When the President of the House of Representatives Somsak Kiatsuranont wanted to shorten the parliamentary debate on the constitution-amending law and rejected several opposition speakers on the matter, on August 20, 2013, there were violent attacks between opposition members and members of the government as well as police officers summoned by the parliamentary president. The Democrats accused Somsak of obstructing her parliamentary freedom and attempted intimidation.

After the parliamentary majority had adopted the amendment law, the opposition brought an action before the constitutional court . This ruled on November 20 that it had not come about in accordance with the procedure and that it violated the fundamental constitutional principle of “democracy with the king as head of state”. However, the court rejected the simultaneous request to dissolve the ruling Pheu Thai party because of an alleged attack on the constitutional order. The government did not accept this ruling. On December 2, the Prime Minister addressed a request to the King to be allowed to pursue the project despite the decision of the court.

Draft amnesty law

In August 2013, the ruling Pheu-Thai party introduced a draft amnesty law into parliament that would exclude those involved in the political conflict of the previous years from prosecution and enforcement. A first draft included only participants in the demonstration, not political leaders and those responsible for violence. Shortly before the final vote in the House of Representatives , however, the text was reformulated in such a way that the political and military leaders were also included. The opposition sharply attacked this initiative as it meant that Thaksin could also return to Thailand without facing his punishment. Parts of the “red shirts” also distanced themselves from this modified version, because those responsible for the killing of their comrades would also go unpunished, while prisoners who were only convicted for their statements under the lese majesty paragraph were expressly excluded from the amnesty.

On October 31, the opposition Democratic Party held the first major demonstration against the law. Nevertheless, it was adopted in the House of Representatives on November 1st. The protests grew rapidly. On November 7, the Prime Minister finally withdrew from the draft and stated that she did not want to pursue it any further. On November 11th, the Senate put in a suspensive veto, so that the initiative cannot be presented again for the next six months. But it has not finally failed.

Protests critical of the government since October 2013

General

Demonstration in Bangkok
Protest march, from Silom to the seat of government
Protest rally at Ratchaprasong Junction, December 22, 2013

The opposition with the Democratic Party of Thailand and its former general secretary and current protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban see the incumbent government under Yingluck as a puppet government , led by Yingluck's exiled brother Thaksin Shinawatra . The amnesty law, which would also have granted Thaksin impunity and thus made his return from exile possible, has since been postponed. The protests continued anyway and are now directed against the “Thaksin system” perceived by the protesters in general. From November 25, 2013, protesters began occupying government institutions. Among other things, they occupied the Ministry of Finance.

In addition to the amnesty law, which has not finally failed, but has merely been postponed, the demonstrators accuse the government of a lack of respect for constitutional institutions . As an example, they cite the attempt to change the composition of the Senate and the failure to comply with the Constitutional Court judgment on this matter. There is also the allegation of corruption , which also includes so-called "policy corruption" . This denotes political projects and promises that are tempting to some of the electorate, but which, in the opinion of its critics, run counter to the general interest because their benefits are disproportionate to the burdens on the state budget. The best-known and most expensive of these projects are the government-guaranteed minimum price for rice, which has cost 11.5 billion US dollars in recent years, and the 2.2 trillion baht program for future major infrastructure projects.

From November 2013 to March 2, 2014, 23 people died in violent clashes between government supporters and opponents, as well as security forces, shootings and explosives. Hundreds were injured.

On December 9, the Prime Minister moved to dissolve parliament and scheduled new elections for February 2, 2014. Until then, she will remain in office on a provisional basis. However, the protest movement led by Suthep Thaugsuban is rejecting elections for the time being. She calls for the appointment of a non-party, unelected Prime Minister and the establishment of a “People's Council” to fundamentally reform the country's political system and eliminate the problems of corruption and buying votes. Only then should there be elections again.

From January 13, 2014, the protest movement tried to paralyze traffic and public life in the capital. As a motto she gave the call Shutdown Krungthep ("Shutdown Bangkok"). The location of the main protests was relocated to the Pathumwan district , which only took place at the Ratchaprasong intersection of Ratchadamri and Rama I Streets, where the large Central World shopping center is located. The police headquarters and a number of luxury hotels are also located there. Subsequently, however, it was decided to move the main place of the meetings two crossings further. Since then, these have taken place at the Pathumwan Junction, where Rama I and Phayathai Streets intersect.

On January 21, 2014, the government declared a state of emergency for Bangkok and parts of the neighboring provinces of Nonthaburi , Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan . He was called for 60 days.

Address to the passing demonstrators
Bangkok Shutdown 2014, near Central World
Bangkok Shutdown 2014, Sala Daeng - Lumpini Park

Protest groups

The anti-amnesty, anti-government and Thaksin movement initially consisted of three main groups (along with a number of smaller initiatives).

The first is the "People's Army to Overthrow the Thaksin System" ( กองทัพ ประชาชน โค่น ระบอบ ทักษิณ, ก ป ท. , Self-chosen English translation: People's Democratic Force to Overthrow Thaksinism , Pefot). This consists essentially of former activists of the People's Alliance for Democracy, which has continuously lost popularity since 2009, finally ceased its activities and instead reorganized. Smaller groups such as Pitak Siam , the Dharma Army and the Union of State Employees also joined. Important themes of their rhetoric are the complete elimination of the "Thaksin system" and its straw men, defense of monarchy and national sovereignty, and ahimsa (non-violence).

The “Student and People's Network for Thailand's Reform” ( เครือ ข่าย นักศึกษา และ ประชาชน ปฏิรูป ประเทศไทย, ค ป ท. ) Split off from it. Its leaders, Nithithorn Lamleua and Uthai Yodmanee, were also previously active in the PAD. The group was mainly joined by students (including Ramkhamhaeng University and Rangsit University ) and vocational school students and activists from the “V for Thailand” group. Her topics are mainly Thai nationalism, rejection of major projects and corruption.

The third and temporarily largest group was the "Movement Against the Thaksin System" ( มวลชน ต่อต้าน ระบอบ ทักษิณ ), which was founded by Suthep Thaugsuban and other former members of the Democratic Party. Suthep not only called for the resignation of the Prime Minister, which would lead to new elections, but instead called for the formation of a "People's Council" that would replace parliament for a transitional period of possibly several years, appoint the government and fundamentally reshape the political system should. Only when national unity has been re-established and the problems of buying votes, manipulating voters and abuse of office have been resolved should elections be held again under a new constitution.

Other smaller groups are the so-called “colorful shirts” (or “citizens' group to save the nation, religion and king”) of the medical lecturer Dr. Tul Sithisomwong, growing groups of doctors and nurses, the military- affiliated group 13 Siam Thai around Chaiwat Sinsuwong and the group of 40 senators who had been the most decisive against the constitutional amendment and the amnesty law.

On November 30th, several of the groups joined forces and formed the "People's Committee for the Change in Thailand to Full Democracy with the King as Head of State" ( คณะ กรรมการ ประชาชน เพื่อ การ เปลี่ยนแปลง ประเทศไทย ให้ เป็น ประชาธิปไตย ที่ สมบูรณ์ อัน มี พระ มหา กษัตริย์ กษัตริย์ ทรง เป็น ประมุข, ก ป ป ส. , Self-chosen English translation: People's Democratic Reform Committee , PDRC). Suthep Thaugsuban has been appointed general secretary of this organization.

The social composition of the protest movement is very heterogeneous. It includes simple rubber farmers from southern Thailand to vocational school students and students to office workers and business people. The latter often go directly from their offices to the protest sites during their lunch breaks or after work.

Course of the demonstrations

Protest leader Suthep speaking on January 16, 2014
  • October 31, 2013: Third reading of the draft amnesty law in the House of Representatives , Suthep starts the first demonstration at the Samsen train station.
  • November 1: At 4:25 in the morning the law is passed after a 19-hour debate with the 310 votes of the ruling coalition in the absence of the opposition MPs who had left the plenary.
  • November 4, 2013: Protesters continue their marches and settle at the democracy monument. Office workers hold a meeting in Silom . Protesters in other provinces march to the respective town halls and provincial administrations. Parliament passed an amendment to Article 190 of the Thai Constitution.
  • November 10, 2013: “Red shirt” protesters hold a demonstration in support of the government and the amnesty law at Ratchaprasong Junction and in Mueang Thong Thani (a suburb of Bangkok in Amphoe Pak Kret , Nonthaburi province ).
  • November 11, 2013: Demonstrations take place in various places in Bangkok, the Senate of Thailand stops the draft law as expected. Suthep and eight other MPs resign from their posts to lead the demonstrations against the Thaksin system, and he calls for civil disobedience.
  • November 15, 2013: Suthep calls for civil disobedience to be expanded.
  • November 16, 2013: During the protests, signatures were collected for impeachment proceedings against more than 300 members of the government.
  • November 17, 2013: Suthep proclaims November 24th as the “Great Day of Demonstration” with over 1 million demonstrators.
  • November 19, 2013: “Red shirt” demonstrators gather at Rajamangala Stadium to support the government.
  • November 24, 2013: Massive demonstrations at the Democracy Monument, Suthep calls for a march to 13 different locations.
  • November 25, 2013: Protesters lay siege to the finance and foreign ministries, the government extends the "Internal Security Act, ISA".
  • November 26, 2013: An arrest warrant for Suthep is issued.
  • November 27, 2013: Protesters lay siege to the government complex.
  • November 28, 2013: Suthep founds the “People's Committee for Democratic Reforms” (PDRC), furthermore he announces December 1st as “Victory Day” and that by then all ministries will be besieged. The government supporters start another demonstration at the Rajamangala Stadium.
  • November 29, 2013: Clash between "red shirts" and students from Ramkhamhaeng University , 4 people are killed and 54 injured in a shooting.
  • December 1, 2013: Government supporters disband their rally to avoid further violent clashes. The police are using tear gas to keep the protesters away from government headquarters and police headquarters. Many universities in Bangkok decide to close until December 5th.
  • December 2, 2013: Further clashes between protesters and police.
  • December 4, 2013: With a view to the celebrations for the king's birthday, the demonstrations are suspended and the day is used as “cleaning day”.
  • December 6, 2013: Suthep calls Monday, December 9, 2013, the "last day" of the demonstrations and calls on as many demonstrators as possible to set off from 8:30 am.
  • December 8, 2013: All 157 Democratic MPs resign from their posts and say they will attend the demonstrations the following day.
  • December 9, 2013: Prime Minister Yingluck dissolves parliament, new elections are announced for February 2. The mass protests continue and sweep across Bangkok. King Bhumibol Adulyadej approves the dissolution of parliament and new elections in February.
  • January 13, 2014: "Bangkok Shutdown"; Protesters under Suthep have been paralyzing the main transport hubs in Bangkok since Sunday night (January 12). Areas affected: Pathumwan, Lat Phrao, Chaeng Wattana Road and Victory Monument.

(Source: The Nation, Daily News Thailand)

Riots and violent clashes

Occupation of government buildings in November 2013, reaction of the "red shirts"

Devaluation of the Thai currency Baht during the political crisis 2013, as an economic indicator

On November 11th, Suthep and eight other MPs of the opposition gave up their parliamentary mandates in order to dedicate themselves from now to the extra-parliamentary opposition to the "Thaksin system". Suthep stated that the temporary end of the amnesty law and even the resignation of Prime Minister Yingluck and holding new elections would not be enough as long as Thaksin and his allies were not fundamentally ousted from power.

The predominantly government-affiliated “red shirts” brought their supporters to Bangkok from mid-November, mainly from north and north-east Thailand. Their aim was to "protect" the government from a possible overthrow or any intervention by the military or the Constitutional Court that they feared. They gathered from November 17 in the Rajamangala National Stadium on the northeastern edge of the city, where they also stayed.

On November 25, the government opponents began to storm government facilities. Among other things, they occupied the Ministry of Finance. Arrest warrants were issued against Suthep and four other demonstration leaders.

First violent clashes

On the afternoon of November 30, groups of "red shirts" left their meeting at Rajamangala Stadium and encountered anti- government students from nearby Ramkhamhaeng University . There were violent clashes between the hostile groups and security forces. Three "red shirts" and one student died. Another adolescent, who did not belong to either of the two camps, died when he set fire to a “red shirt” bus and could not leave it quickly enough.

On December 26, during clashes between police and protesters who disrupted candidate registration for the election at the Thai-Japanese stadium in Din Daeng district , one police officer was shot dead and dozens injured on both sides. In the early morning of December 28, one of the government opponents' “guards” was shot dead from a passing vehicle and three others were seriously injured.

During the "Bangkok Shutdown" and in the area of ​​the election

During the "Bangkok Shutdown" that began on January 13, 2014, there were several incidents with shootings and attacks. Among other things, the houses of the former Prime Minister Abhihit Vejjajiva and the Governor of Bangkok, Sukhumbhand Paribatra , as well as the UN building were attacked. Up until then, January 17th saw the greatest number of serious incidents. In the early afternoon, an explosives attack was carried out on the convoy surrounding demonstration leader Suthep. There were 38 injuries, one of whom died in hospital from his injuries. Another 28 people were injured in a grenade attack on a protesting crowd on January 19.

On January 26, Sutin Tharatin, a leader of the Dharma Army and the Pefot, was shot in the head while he was speaking to supporters outside a polling station. He had previously persuaded the local electoral officer to suspend early voting. The police blamed political opponents for the murder. One day before the February 2 election, violent clashes broke out in Lak Si district between partially armed opponents of the government who wanted to prevent the delivery of the ballot papers and supporters of the government who campaigned for the election to be carried out properly. There were exchanges of fire and explosives. Among other things, the American photojournalist James Nachtwey was shot. On election day, government opponents disrupted voting in 127 of the 375 constituencies, in 45 of which no elections could take place. In Bangkok, 488 of the 6673 polling stations had to remain closed.

In the unsuccessful attempt by the police to break the government opponents' blockade on the Phan Fa Bridge, one police officer and three civilians died on February 18 and 64 people were injured. The following day, protesters besieged the Ministry of Defense to blockade the Prime Minister's office. It was only in January that Yingluck, who also heads the defense department, moved her office there. Protest leader Suthep announced that the demonstrators would "chase away" the prime minister. On the evening of February 22nd, a meeting of the PDRC in the eastern Thai province of Trat was shot at from passing cars and pelted with grenades. One child died and 31 people were injured. The next day, a woman and a child were killed in a grenade explosion in the protesters' camp at Ratchaprasong Junction in Bangkok's main business district, and 22 others were injured.

On February 28, Suthep declared the shutdown over. Two days later, the government opponents cleared several of the occupied crossroads and withdrew to the protest camp in Lumphini Park . Previously, the number of participants at the PDRC meetings had continued to decline. By-elections were held smoothly on March 2 in some of the constituencies where voting had been disrupted. Depending on the restoration of the security situation, they should also take place in stages in the other districts. The results will not be announced until the nationwide elections are completed.

End of the state of emergency and cancellation of the elections

On March 18, 2014, the Thai government lifted the state of emergency declared in January. She justified this with the improved security situation and the desire to stimulate tourism again. The state of emergency has been replaced by a special law on internal security, which is to apply until the end of April. On March 21, 2014, the country's Constitutional Court invalidated the February parliamentary elections because they did not take place nationwide on the same day.

Removal of the Prime Minister from office by the Constitutional Court

On May 7, 2014, the Constitutional Court found Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and nine of her cabinet members, including Foreign Minister Chalerm Yubamrung , Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong and Labor Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul , guilty of constitutional breach and dismissed them from office. The charges brought by 27 senators related to the 2011 dismissal of National Security Council chief Thawil Pliensri , which enabled Priewpan Damapong, a brother-in-law of Thaksin Shinawatra, to be appointed national police chief. Government supporters and commentators again spoke of a “judicial coup”. The remaining cabinet members elected the previous Minister of Commerce and Deputy Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan as executive head of government. However, the opposition movement denies him legitimacy and continues to demand the appointment of a "neutral" prime minister.

Then there was renewed violence: on May 15, unidentified attackers fired at a PDRC meeting at the Democracy Monument with grenade launchers, assault rifles and pistols. Three people died and over 20 were injured. After opponents of the government disrupted a meeting of the electoral commission with the executive prime minister and forced him to flee, the electoral authority postponed the new elections on July 20 for an indefinite period. The Army Commander-in-Chief, General Prayuth Chan-ocha , threatened military action to prevent further violence.

Military coup

In the early morning of May 20, 2014, the army declared martial law. General Prayuth Chan-ocha justified the move with the maintenance of security, law and order. Both the military and the caretaker government, which had not been informed of the move in advance, stressed that it was not a coup . The "Command for the Preservation of Peace and Order" formed by Prayuth, however, has extensive powers: It can order arrests without an arrest warrant and house searches without a judicial decision as well as curfews, already has radio and television stations that the political conflict parties (both PDRC and " Red Shirts ”) are closed and can also influence the program of other broadcasters. It is allowed to suppress information that goes against the interests of the military. There was therefore talk of a “creeping coup”, “half-coup” or “de facto coup”.

On May 22nd, Prayuth announced that the talks he moderated with the political forces to resolve the conflict had failed and that the army itself would take over governance until further notice.

On July 22nd, King Bhumibol Adulyadej approved the interim constitution drawn up by the junta . The 48-article text contained an amnesty for those involved in the coup and gave the military rulers practically unlimited opportunities to counter a possible threat to national security.

The junta called itself the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) .

On August 21, the legislative assembly set up by the coup plotters elected Juntachef Prayuth unopposed as prime minister. Four days later, on August 25th, the king announced the formal confirmation.

Political development

Thailand has been under a military dictatorship since the coup in May 2014 . The junta headed by Prayuth suspended the constitution and drafted a transitional constitution that was equivalent to a free ticket for the generals. He did not keep his promise from the coup to make the people happy again and to rebuild democracy as quickly as possible. In April 2015, martial law was repealed and its place was replaced by an order giving soldiers more power.

The opposition around Thaksin Shinawatra, who ruled the country with his sister Yingluck until the coup, is keeping a low profile, although he still enjoys great popular support.

The return to democracy therefore seems to be in the hands of Prayuth and his advisors alone.

Web links

Commons : Political Crisis in Thailand 2013/2014  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ After protests in Thailand - government overturns amnesty law. ( Memento from November 10, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) In: tagesschau.de , November 7, 2013.
  2. ↑ Aim Sinpeng: Pitak Siam's failure. In: New Mandala , November 26, 2012.
  3. ↑ Boonler calls it quits amid clashes. In: Bangkok Post , November 25, 2012.
  4. ↑ Attayuth Bootsripoom, Khanittha Thepphajorn: Thai Spring launches online campaign against Yingluck. In: The Nation , May 18, 2013.
  5. ↑ Guy Fawkes and the red Goliath. In: Bangkok Post , June 6, 2013.
  6. ↑ Nick Nostitz: White masks, red masks and royalist communists. In: New Mandala , June 10, 2013.
  7. ^ Faine Greenwood: V for Thailand. Why Protestors in Bangkok are Donning Guy Fawkes Masks. In: UN Dispatch , June 11, 2013.
  8. ↑ Pefot gearing up for Aug 7 rally. In: Bangkok Post , August 6, 2013.
  9. ↑ Chanikarn Phumhiran, Krissana Tiwatsirikul: Democrat 'farmer' Thaworn to join rubber price protests. In: The Sunday Nation , August 25, 2013.
  10. ↑ Thai rubber farmers' protest turns violent. In: Al Jazeera , September 6, 2013.
  11. ^ Rubber farmers block road again. In: Bangkok Post , September 15, 2013.
  12. ↑ Anti-dam protesters begin 300km march. In: Bangkok Post , September 10, 2013.
  13. ↑ Mae Wong dam protesters in BKK. In: The Nation , September 22, 2013.
  14. ↑ Debate over fate of senators marred by brawl. In: Bangkok Post , August 20, 2013.
  15. ↑ Thailand's constitutional court rejects dissolution of the ruling party. In: derStandard.at , November 20, 2013.
  16. ^ Thomas Fuller: Thai Court Rejects Bid for Direct Elections of All Senators. In: The New York Times , November 20, 2013.
  17. ↑ Court: Charter amendment unconstitutional. In: Bangkok Post , November 20, 2013.
  18. ↑ PM seeks return of Senate bill from King. In: Bangkok Post , December 8, 2013.
  19. ↑ Senators shoot down blanket amnesty bill. In: Bangkok Post , November 12, 2013.
  20. ^ Mass protests in Bangkok. Protesters invade the second ministry. In: Süddeutsche.de , November 25, 2013.
  21. ^ Udo Schmidt: Mass protests in Thailand. Opposition poses the question of power. ( Memento from November 27, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) In: tagesschau.de , November 25, 2013.
  22. ^ Arrest warrant for protest leaders in Thailand. In: RP Online , November 26, 2013.
  23. ↑ Violence toll: 23 killed, 768 injured. In: Bangkok Post . March 2, 2013.
  24. ^ Thailand crisis. Protesters launch Bangkok 'shutdown'. BBC News, Jan. 13, 2014.
  25. ↑ What the protests in Bangkok mean for tourists. In: Die Welt (Online), January 14, 2014.
  26. ↑ Hataikarn Treesuwan: Pathumwan rally stage picked for its good "feng shui". In: The Nation online , January 13, 2014.
  27. ↑ Thailand imposes an emergency in Bangkok. In: ORF.at , January 21, 2014.
    Emergency decree invoked in Bangkok. In: Bangkok Post , January 21, 2014.
  28. ↑ Aim Sinpeng: Who's who in Thailand's anti-government forces? In: New Mandala , November 30, 2013.
  29. ↑ Terry Fredrickson: Suthep declares 'people's revolt'. In: Bangkok Post , November 30, 2013.
  30. ↑ Thomas Fuller: Thai Protests Turn Volatile as at Least 3 Are Shot Dead. In: The New York Times , December 1, 2013.
  31. ^ John Hedley: Bangkok - Sky-blue thinking amid protests . In: Financial News , December 6, 2013.
  32. ^ Thai House of Representatives passes controversial Amnesty Bill. In: ABN News , November 1, 2013.
  33. ^ Protesters move in early for Bangkok shutdown. In: Bangkok Post , January 12, 2014
  34. ^ How the Protest Has Grown. In: The Nation , Daily News Thailand.
  35. ↑ Red rally at Rajamangala stadium on Tues, Wed. In: NationMultimedia.com , November 17, 2013.
  36. ^ Arrest warrant for the leader of the protests in Thailand. In: derStandard.at , November 26, 2013.
  37. ^ Red-shirts 'died protecting their people'. In: Bangkok Post , December 3, 2013.
  38. ↑ Teen killed in bus not a red shirt, say cops. In: Bangkok Post , December 7, 2013.
  39. ^ Policeman killed in Din Daeng clash. In: Bangkok Post , December 26, 2013.
  40. ↑ Protest guard this in drive-by shooting. In: Bangkok Post , December 29, 2013.
  41. ↑ Autopsy shows dead Pefot protest leader was shot twice. In: Bangkok Post , January 27, 2014.
  42. ↑ Thai protest leader shot dead as polling stations are blocked. In: The Guardian , Jan. 26, 2014.
  43. ^ Till Fähnders: Violence on the evening before the election. In: Frankfurter Allgemeine , February 1, 2014.
  44. ↑ Election in Thailand massively hindered by government opponents. In: Die Welt , February 2, 2014.
  45. ↑ Blocked voting. In: taz.de , February 2, 2014.
  46. ↑ Four dead and 64 injured in Phan Fah protest clearance. In: Bangkok Post , February 18, 2014.
  47. ↑ Protests in Thailand: Protesters besiege the office of the head of government in Bangkok. In: Spiegel Online , February 19, 2014.
  48. ↑ "We will chase them away" - State crisis in Thailand. In: n24.de , February 19, 2014.
  49. ↑ PdRC demands govt to take responsibility for Trat attack. In: Bangkok Post , February 23, 2014.
  50. ↑ Deaths in attack on opponents of the government. In: Süddeutsche.de , February 23, 2014.
  51. ↑ Government opponents in Bangkok clear intersections. In: RP Online , March 2, 2014.
  52. ^ By-elections begin in Thailand. In: Zeit Online , March 2, 2014.
  53. ↑ Smooth by-elections in Thailand. In: DW.de , March 2, 2014.
  54. ↑ The state of emergency in Bangkok is lifted again. In: ORF.at , March 18, 2014
  55. ^ Willi Germund: Elections of judges canceled. In: Frankfurter Rundschau , March 21, 2014.
  56. ^ Announcement of the verdict on TV. In: ORF.at , May 7, 2014.
  57. ↑ Marco Kauffmann Bossart: Prime Minister Yingluck deposed. In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung , May 7, 2014.
  58. ↑ Thailand's army chief threatens military action. In: Süddeutsche.de , May 15, 2014.
  59. ↑ Deaths in attack on opponents of the government in Bangkok. In: Die Welt , May 15, 2014.
  60. ↑ Dead in attack on demonstrators in Bangkok. In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung , May 15, 2014.
  61. ↑ emergency meeting of the government. In: ORF.at , May 20, 2014.
  62. ↑ Frederic Spohr: The standby dictatorship. In: Zeit Online , May 20, 2014.
  63. ^ Mathias Peer: Martial Law in Thailand. The generals take command. In: Spiegel Online , May 20, 2014.
  64. ↑ Norbert Lübbers: Thailand's army imposes martial law. ( Memento from May 20, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) In: tagesschau.de , May 20, 2014.
  65. ↑ Till Fähnders: A coup that shouldn't be. In: Frankfurter Allgemeine , May 20, 2014.
  66. ↑ Thailand's army promises peace. In: derStandard.at , May 22, 2014.
  67. ↑ Till Fähnders: Junta secures unlimited power. In: Frankfurter Allgemeine , July 25, 2014.
  68. ↑ Sascha Zastiral: Lots of leeway for the generals. In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung , July 24, 2014.
  69. ^ Thai junta chief elected premier In: ORF , August 21, 2014.
  70. ↑ Thailand's king confirms new head of government In: Der Standard , August 25, 2014.
  71. ↑ a b Katja Dombrowski: Thai Democracy. In: D + C Development and Cooperation , Volume 56, No. 5, April 15, 2015