Special Report: Premier Wen Attends 12th China-ASEAN
Meetings
 |
|
Anti-government "red-shirted" protestors break into the ASEAN related summits venue in Pattaya, Thailand, April 11, 2009. The ASEAN related summits scheduled on April 10-12 have been canceled because of security reason, the Thai government announced here Saturday.(Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
by Xinhua writer Xu Duo
PATTAYA, Thailand, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The 14th ASEAN summit and related summits were forced to be canceled and a state of emergency declared in Thailand's Pattaya Saturday afternoon, after thousands of anti-government protesters managed to take over the media center near the summit venue.
 |
|
Photo taken on April 11, 2009 in Pattaya, Thailand, shows Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva making a TV address to declare a state of emergency in Chonburi Province including Pattaya, venue of ASEAN and related summits after anti-government protesters broke into the conference center. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
SUMMITS CANCELED
Following clashes of red-shirted and blue-shirted
people outside the meeting venue, the "red shirts" broke into the media center
through crashed glass doors, announcing to reporters at a self-organized press
conference that they demand the upcoming summits be terminated, the current
prime minister dissolve the government and step down before April 15, and fresh
elections be held. Otherwise, they would keep heat on by organizing more
rallies.
With peaceful rallies escalating into violent
clashes, the government was forced to declare an indefinite postponement of the
summits. With other ASEAN leaders already departing or ready to depart, such an
announcement was tantamount to an awkward cancellation, despite the government's
repeated insistence there was only a delay.
Embattled Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva then
declared a state of emergency in Pattaya and Chon Buri. Speaking at a press
conference, the prime minister said ASEAN leaders and their dialogue partners
understand the need to postpone the summit and support government actions
regarding Saturday's incidents.
China and ASEAN had planned to ink an investment
agreement at their summit. If signed, the agreement, together with a 2004 goods
agreement and a 2007 services agreement, will formally complete the China-ASEAN
free trade area negotiation process.
Thai government officials said that the government is able to ensure the safety of the ASEAN leaders and their dialogue partners. The Thai government said helicopters are being used to lift ASEAN leaders to a nearby military airport.
 |
|
Supporters of ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra force their way as the glass door shatters past soldiers at one of the venues of the 14th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Pattaya April 11, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
UN CHIEF EXPRESSES REGRET
Shortly after the cancellation, UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon announced in a statement to cancel his scheduled trip to Pattaya,
expressing deep regret to the postponement.
"I deeply regret the postponement of the ASEAN and
related summits and the consequent postponement of my attendance to the events,"
the UN chief said in a written statement sent to Xinhua via email.
"I understand the circumstances that led the Thai
Government to take this difficult decision," Ban said, adding that he hoped for
an early restoration of normalcy in Thailand and for the settlement of
differences through dialogue and peaceful means.
Ban was originally scheduled to arrive in Pattaya on Saturday to preside over the launching of a new UN report, which assesses on the prospects of the UN-ASEAN cooperation, and attend the 3rd ASEAN-UN Summit on Sunday. He also planned to meet Chinese PremierWen Jiabao among other leaders attending the summits.
 |
|
A riot police is hurt as the anti-government "red shirt" protestors force their way to enter one of the venues of the 14th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Pattaya, Thailand, April 11, 2009. (Xinhua/Huang Haimin)
Photo Gallery>>> |
CLASHES WOUND TWO
Earlier in the day, thousands of anti-government
red-shirted protesters arrived at Pattaya in hundreds of taxis, buses, wagons,
motorcycles and private cars. They marched toward the Pattaya Royal Cliff
complex, the summit venue, penetrating police cordon-off lines and road
blockades.
After clashes broke out between red-shirted and
blue-shirted protesters, two protesters from the red camp were seriously wounded
in shootings by blue-shirted men. Red-shirted protesters accused the government
of being responsible for the casualties.
Denying any connection with the blue-shirted
protesters, acting government spokesman Panithan Watanayagorn said they were
simply average people who wanted to see the summits proceed smoothly, and they
showed up to prevent the red-shirted protesters from disrupting the summits.
The government was investigating into the incident,
and the blue-shirted men could be arrested if committed anything illegal, he
added.
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his
red-shirted supporters claim the Abhisit government was not legitimate because
it was set up following "unfair" court rulings against the former pro-Thaksin
ruling party and a military-dictated defection of some formerly pro-Thaksin
MPs.
 |
|
Anti-government "red-shirted" protestors hold a news conference at the venue of the ASEAN summit and related summits in Pattaya, Thailand, April 11, 2009.(Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
Thai official: ASEAN leaders to re-meet in August
BANGKOK, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will meet again in Bangkok in August to sign free trade agreements with China and India, Thai media reported Saturday after the cancellation of ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. Full story
 |
|
Anti-government protesters confront policemen outside the place where foreign delegations attending the ASEAN related summits are stationed, in Pattaya, Thailand, April 11, 2009. A scheduled 12th ASEAN-China Summit was not held as scheduled at 9:00 am on Saturday due to anti-government "red shirt" blocked all main roads in Pattaya.
(Xinhua Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
Thai PM declares state of emergency in Pattaya
PATTAYA, Thailand, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Saturday declared a state of emergency in Pattaya, venue of ASEAN and related summits after anti-government protesters broke into the conference center. Full story
Anti-government protesters encloses Thai PM's residence
BANGKOK, April 11 (Xinhua) -- A group of anti-government protesters on Saturday gathered at Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's residence in Bangkok, demanding him to resign. Full story
Thai anti-government "red shirt" protestors accuse gov't of being behind shooting
PATTAYA, Thailand, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Ten representatives of the "red shirt" protestors told foreign media here Saturday that the Thai government should be held responsible for an earlier shooting which seriously wounded two "red shirt" protestors. Full story
Thai protesters withdraw from hotel of Chinese, S Korean representatives in Pattaya
PATTAYA, Thailand, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Anti-government protestors in Thailand who had previously blocked a hotel of Chinese and South Korean delegates attending the summit between the ASEAN and China, Japan and South Korea and the East Asia Summit have retreated. Full story
Thousands of "red shirt" protestors demonstrate outside Summit venue
PATTAYA, Thailand, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of anti-government "red shirt" protestors held rallies Saturday morning outside the Royal Cliff Beach Resort Hotel, the venue of the 14th ASEAN summit and Related summits, demanding they be given opportunities to meet foreign media. Full story
Red-shirts battle local residents in Pattaya, 3 injured
PATTAYA, Thailand, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Anti-government red-shirted protesters battled with local people who formed a line to protect the venue of ASEAN and related summits here Saturday morning, three people injured, Pattaya city governr confirmed. Full story
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
