Will Yingluck Shinawatra’s removal from office bring renewed instability in Bangkok?

BANGKOK – The only uncertainty lingering over Thailand Constitutional Court’s decision to remove acting Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was only ‘when it would happen’. Mrs. Shinawatra was accused for two different corruption cases. If the first once could not successfully to her demise, the second one would have then done the job. 
 

In the political struggle between Pro-Shinawatra supporters and Anti-government forces –“Red Shirts” versus “Yellow Shirts”-, it was only a question of time before the Court-mostly supportive of the yellow- would succeed to oust the ex-Prime Minister. On Wednesday afternoon, Mrs. Shinawatra was convinced by the Constitutional Court to have abused power by removing and transferring National Security Chief Thawil Pliensree back to 2011. Mrs. Shinawatra’s removal is accompanied by the ousting of nine other ministers from her cabinet. The decision is immediate and without any right for appeal. 
 

While fresh elections have been called out for July, Thailand still remains without a proper government, slowing down any further decision beside the daily management of the public administration. An interim government is likely to be chosen to drive the country until general elections take place.
 

Meanwhile, protests could swell again in Bangkok, but this time from the other side. After the massive protests which partially disorganized Bangkok from December to February and generated violences, the “Red Shirts” movement, favourable to the Shinawatra family and mostly living upcountry, announced already a few weeks ago their readiness to fight to save their emblematic ex PM. 
 

Thousands of pro-government Red Shirt supporters say they were ready to descend on Bangkok if Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday rules to force prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra from office on an alleged abuse of power charge. In an interview to local media, Anutin Tinnaraj, chairman of the north-eastern chapter of the Red Shirt’s United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship explained that some 100,000 people from 20 provinces would protest in Bangkok. Sites of the protests should be announced rapidly.
 

Clashes with the PDRC anti-Shinawatra government of Suthep Thaugsuban could be feared over the next few days while the Red Shirts will held a massive protest on May 10.