Threat To Stability

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has reacted to a series of protests in the country’s capital by dissolving parliament and calling a fresh election for April 2. The decision of the opposition to boycott the election has left Thaksin in the position of being able to claim the democratic high ground by agreeing to step down only if his party fails to secure a majority of the public vote (rather than acceding to the demands of protestors in Bangkok). The main threat to stability is that isolated protests gather momentum and divide the country along lines of political affiliation.

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