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Opposition protests around the parliament building in Bangkok turned violent on Oct. 7 after police attempted to disperse the crowd with tear gas and an explosive device allegedly detonated in a car. Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat has not yet called the second state of emergency in as many months, but the situation on the ground has already reached emergency levels.
Trouble began early the morning of Oct. 7, when police attempted to dismantle barricades set up overnight by the opposition People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) at the parliament building. The PAD is attempting to prevent Somchai from reading his official policy statement by the constitutional deadline. The policy’s major item is an amendment to the constitution that would allow former People Power Party (PPP) leader Thaksin Shinawatra to avoid criminal prosecution.
At present, the situation in Bangkok’s government district is escalating, with reports that protesters have besieged the central police station and are using tear gas of their own, and that gunshots have been fired at police. A Stratfor source said dozens of trucks full of policemen are approaching the capital via the main southeast road. Most significantly, the military has been deployed to assist police after months of holding to its non-intervention policy — though the soldiers will not carry firearms.
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