Thai Protest Leader Rejects Emergency Decree

Thailand's anti-government protest leader has criticized a recently declared state of emergency in Bangkok and vowed to shut down "every government agency" by the end of the week.

Suthep Thaugsuban has led 10 consecutive days of protests in the capital, attempting to overthrow what he views as a corrupt government and replace it with an unelected people's council.

In response, the government declared a 60-day state of emergency, which began on Wednesday. Though officials say they will not break up the protests, the decree gives the government the ability to substantially widen their powers.

Leading a march Thursday, Suthep said the decree was unnecessary and would not deter the protesters, which he said have the support of the people.

"Within this week, we will shut down every government agency. Civil servants keep telling us to close their work place. They also want us to close down transportation, but we will not do that. All civil servants now are giving their heart to the side of the people," said Suthep.

Suthep's initial strategy was to shut down key government ministries in an effort to get Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to resign. But when the government shifted its operations to alternate facilities, he called for protesters to block key intersections throughout the city.


Though clashes with police have been scarce, nine people have been killed in recent weeks, and attacks on anti-government protesters have been increasing.

Adding to fears the violence may spread, a well-known pro-government leader was shot and wounded in a drive-by shooting in northern Thailand Wednesday.

Police said "Red Shirt" leader Kwanchai Praipana was shot twice by unknown attackers at his home in the northeast province of Udon Thani.

The unrest has led some to believe that early elections, set for February 2, should not go ahead as planned. Thailand's Election Commission on Wednesday said it was seeking a ruling from the Constitutional Court on whether it can delay the vote.

Even before the opposition's decision to boycott the vote, Yingluck's Pheu Thai party was expected to easily win the election, thanks in part to the popularity of her brother, the ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup, remains very influential in Thailand, even though he was convicted of corruption and lives in self-imposed exile. The opposition says Yingluck's government is effectively controlled by Thaksin.