Protesters pelt Thai prime minister with insults and shoes

[Coventina]

Source: Internationa Herald-Tribune

BANGKOK: The embattled prime minister of Thailand, Somchai Wongsawat, was confronted Wednesday by angry protesters, who reportedly threw shoes and plastic water bottles at him during a visit to a government telecommunications office.

The run-in with the crowd of several hundred protesters, who shouted "Murderer!" and other insults, underlines the personalized animosity that pervades Thailand's political crisis. It also highlights the increasing difficulty of the government to function properly. Many of the protesters were reportedly government employees.

In the four weeks since being sworn in as prime minister, Somchai has not been able to access his office, which has been occupied by anti-government protesters since August.

Two weeks ago the prime minister was forced to climb over a fence to escape demonstrators who had surrounded the Parliament building. Two people were killed when police, using powerful tear gas grenades, cleared a path for members of Parliament to flee.

Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/22/asia/thai.php

[zeos3]

1. Is Dubya going to Thailand anytime soon?

[Ian David]

2. By "powerful" tear gas grenades the really mean DEFECTIVE ones made in China with dynamite in them.

[bemildred]

3. I like the shoe thing, we should try that here. nt

[silverojo]

4. Yeah, it's great for politicians who have no "soul" - n/t

[Nihil]

5. Showing dissent ...

... with a shout of "Cobblers!"