Emergency Lifted in Bangkok

Thai Government Cites Effect on Tourism

BANGKOK, Sept. 15 -- The Thai government on Sunday ended a state of emergency imposed in the capital to control a violent political crisis, saying it had served only to scare away tourists crucial to the country's economy.

Emergency rule was imposed by the government Sept. 2 after a night of clashes between its supporters and opponents left one man dead and dozens injured. Images of the mayhem were broadcast around the world, prompting travel advisories from several countries.

Calm was quickly restored in the capital, and business and daily life continued as usual. The army refused to exercise its authority under the decree to oust tens of thousands of protesters from the prime minister's compound, where they have been camped in tents since Aug. 26.

The stock market has fallen about 25 percent since opponents of the government started their campaign with street demonstrations in May.

Acting Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat urged all sides in the deepening political standoff to compromise and help restore the country's image.

Somchai, the brother-in-law of deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra, was endorsed by Thailand's ruling party as its nominee to become the next prime minister. A parliamentary vote is scheduled for Wednesday.

"We should bring back the smile to the country once again, as we are called 'The Land of Smiles,' " Somchai said after meeting with the army chief and other senior security officials. "We have to restore outsiders' confidence, especially tourists, that we are a peaceful country and have no more conflict," he added.

The spirit of compromise will be tested this week as the parliament seeks -- for a second time -- to elect a prime minister acceptable to all sides.

Samak Sundaravej, who took over as prime minister after elections in December, was forced to resign Sept. 9 when the Constitutional Court ruled that he had violated conflict-of-interest laws by accepting money to host TV cooking shows while in office. The ruling was an unrelated twist to the political crisis.

Protesters accused Samak of being a stooge of former prime minister Thaksin, who recently fled to Britain to escape corruption charges. Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 military coup after street demonstrations by the same group.

The protesters, who call themselves the People's Alliance for Democracy, are a mixture of monarchists, military personnel and the urban elite. They complain that Western-style democracy gives too much power to the rural poor, who they say are susceptible to vote-buying. The alliance proposes replacing the elected parliament with one that is mostly appointed -- to keep power in the hands of the educated elite.

"Removing the state of emergency has no effect on our rally because it does not solve the current problems in Thai politics," said an alliance spokesman, Parnthep Wongpuapan. "We will stay here, and we will continue calling for the current system to be cleaned up."