Shinawatra refuses to step down amid violent protests

Eurasia News

BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday rejected opposition’s demand to resign, saying it is not possible under the constitution, Dispatch News Desk reported.

“Anything I can do to make people happy, I am willing to do… but as prime minister, what I can do must be under the constitution,” Shinawatra said in her televised address on Monday.

However, the prime minister said that she is ready to negotiate with the opposition protesters.

On Sunday, the opposition leader Suthep Thaugsuban gave Yingluck Shinawatra two days to return power to the people unconditionally.

In her address, Shinawatra said that the demand to transfer power from the elected prime minister to the people does not exist under constitutional law.

On the other hand, anti-government protesters continued their violent protests today and tried to seize official premises including the Thai cabinet ministry in the capital, Bangkok. In response, police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon against the protesters.

The protesters have already occupied several public buildings including the finance ministry.

The anti-government protesters are demanding the Thai premier to resign and claimed that the current government is being controlled by Thaksin Shinawatra, the brother of Thaksin Shinawatra.