2013–14 Thai political crisis

2013–14 Thai political crisis
Protesters at Democracy Monument on 30 November
Date	31 October 2013 – 22 May 2014 (7 months and 22 days)
Location	Thailand
Causes	Proposed amnesty bill pardoning wrongdoings of all sides since 2004 Shinawatra family influence Proposed amendment to the 2007 constitution Center-periphery dissonance Royal succession
Goals	Removal of Thaksin-affiliated Pheu Thai Party Creation of an unelected People's Council to oversee political reforms
Methods	Street protests Occupation of government offices General disruption Boycott of general election
Result	Dissolution of House of Representatives on 9 December and new election Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra removed from power Martial law imposed on Thailand 2014 Thai coup d'état against the caretaker government Junta established
Parties to the civil conflict
People's Democratic Reform Committee Democrat Party Yingluck cabinet Pheu Thai Party United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship ("Red Shirts")
Lead figures
Suthep Thaugsuban Yingluck Shinawatra Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan (Acting Prime Minister)
Casualties
Death(s)	28(as of 16 May 2014)
Injuries	825(as of 16 May 2014)
Arrested	12(as of 16 January 2014)

The 2013–14 Thai political crisis was a period of political instability in Thailand. Anti-government protests took place between November 2013 and May 2014, organised by the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), a political pressure group led by former Democrat Party MP Suthep Thaugsuban. The protests eventually resulted in the removal of incumbent Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, a coup d'état, and the establishment of a military junta.

The primary aim of the protests was the removal of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's influence on Thai politics and the creation of an unelected "people's council" to oversee reforms of the political system. Protesters viewed Thaksin as corrupt and damaging to Thailand's democracy, although he enjoyed strong support in many areas of Thailand, particularly the poorer north and northeast, due to his reforming social programs and economic policies. Political parties allied to Thaksin had won a majority in every election since 2001. Other issues, such as the royal succession, a rural-urban or north-south divide, social inequality, over-centralised bureaucracy, royal and military influence in politics and class conflict were seen as factors behind the crisis by analysts and commentators.

The protests were first triggered by a proposed blanket amnesty bill that would have pardoned several politicians from various charges since 2004, including Thaksin, Suthep Thaugsuban, and Abhisit Vejjajiva. Opposition from across the political spectrum, including the pro-government Red Shirt movement, caused the bill to be rejected unanimously by the Senate of Thailand. Anti-government protests continued however, with demonstrators occupying government offices, blocking major road intersections and holding mass rallies in Bangkok to call for the resignation of Yingluck Shinawatra, the sister of Thaksin, and her Pheu Thai government. On 8 December 2013, all 153 opposition Democrat Party MPs resigned and Yingluck dissolved the House of Representatives, calling a snap general election for 2 February. Voting was disrupted in areas of Bangkok and southern Thailand by PDRC protesters blocking entry to polling stations, leading to an annulment of the result by the Constitutional Court. Sporadic violence, including shootings, bomb attempts and grenades thrown at protesters led to 28 deaths and over 800 injuries during the course of the protests. On 21 January, Yingluck's government declared a state of emergency in Bangkok and the surrounding areas, to little effect.