The last few months for embattled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra have no doubt been nightmarish. It has been far worse for the anti-government protesters who have found themselves the victims of increased violence which recently resulted in multiple deaths.
As the protests rage on it appears the odds are increasingly shifting towards those presently seeking to have Shinawatra removed from office.
A Thai court has banned the government from using violence against protesters who want the prime minister out of office. The Civil Court ruled on Wednesday that the emergency decree issued by Shinawatra and a special security command center are in fact unconstitutional.
The decree made it illegal for more than five individuals to gather in a single place at once, being allowed into certain buildings, or for demonstrators to be allowed to use certain roads.
The ruling arrives a day after clashes between protesters and riot police resulted in five fatalities and dozens of injuries.
For now the ban may avoid the intervention of the Thai military, which was responsible from moving Shinawatra’s brother, Thaksin, from power back in 2006.
Thailand! Come for the protests, stay for the half naked protestors…
pic.twitter.com/U4RKtHXVMU
— the grugq (@thegrugq) February 19, 2014
In truth there has been some unrest in Thailand since Thaksin Shinawatra was in power. A number of citizens continue to feel that the wealthy and powerful Shinawatra family is corrupt and bad for the progress of the nation.
They may have a legitimate concern.
Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission or NACC, has announced that the current prime minister could face charges of abuse of power and maleficence.
The charges are based on legislation that promised to pay farmers above the market prices for their crop, regardless of the quality of the crop.
The Thai government underestimated how rice traders would respond to the overpriced and under quality rice crops. Instead of paying for the items, many switched to rival markets in other countries.
Farmers have reportedly not been paid since September, resulting in a number of them heading to Bangkok to join the ongoing protests.
The botched scheme has left Shinawatra’s government in hot water and presented the strongest challenge yet to her authority.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
