International groups warn of spiralling crisis in Bangkok

May 1, 2010, 6:19 GMT

Bangkok - International groups on Saturday warned of a spiralling crisis in Bangkok where clashes between government troops and protestors has already claimed 27 lives and injured more than 900 this month.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on all sides to end the violence and negotiate a political solution. The Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG) called on the government to seek international intervention in the crisis.

'The Thai political system has broken down and seems incapable of pulling the country back from the brink of widespread conflict,' the ICG said.

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) has been staging increasingly violent protests in Bangkok since March 12, demanding Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's resignation and new elections.

Abhisit placed the capital under emergency decree on April 7, outlawing all political gatherings of more than five people and granting authorities a degree of immunity in their actions.

Despite the decree, authorities have failed to end the protest or stem the violence. Clashes on April 10, 22 and 29 have claimed 27 lives, including six soldiers, and left more than 900 wounded.

'The stand-off in the streets of Bangkok between the government and red shirt protestors is worsening and could deteriorate into an undeclared civil war,' the ICG warned.

'The country's polarisation demands immediate action in the form of assistance from neutral figures from outside. It is time for Thailand to consider help from international friends to avoid a slide into wider violence.'

Human Rights Watch called for an independent investigation into the deaths.

'Thailand is spiraling further into political violence as protestors, counter-protestors, and security forces respond tit for tat against attacks and provocations,' Asia director Brad Adams said.

HRW expressed concern about the emergency decree, which provides government officials a degree of immunity for their actions against the protestors. It called on the government to reveal how many people have already been arrested under the law.

The group also criticized the UDD, which paints itself as a non-violent movement fighting for the empowerment of Thailand's long neglected rural and urban poor.

'Contrary to the repeated claims of various UDD leaders that their movement is non-violent, photos, video, and eyewitness accounts demonstrate that many UDD security guards and protestors are armed with guns, explosives, petrol bombs, slingshots, metal clubs, knives, sharpened bamboo sticks, and other weapons,' HRW said.

It highlighted the UDD's recent raid of Chualongkorn Hospital, near their protest site, which prompted widespread condemnation.

HRW also accused UDD leader Nathawut Saikua of publicly urging supporters to loot and destroy high-end shopping malls if the government tries to break up their protest.

'The UDD's claim to be a peaceful political movement falls flat when their leaders continue to advocate and use violence.'