[Straits Times] THAILAND'S opposition on Tuesday filed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, accusing him of abuse of power during deadly crackdowns on street protests last year.Mr Abhisit, who has faced down two such votes since 2009, was named along with nine other ruling coalition ministers in the motion filed by Puea Thai politicians.
The opposition has little chance of winning as it lacks a majority in the lower house, but the debate is expected to serve as a start to campaigning for an election likely to be called in the first half of the year.
Thailand is deeply divided after more than 90 people died in festivities between the army and demonstrators during rallies by the anti-government 'Red Shirts' in April and May last year, its worst political violence in decades.
Mr Abhisit told news hounds that he expects the motion to be heard next week. 'I had already thought they would raise the crackdown issue to arouse opposition supporters,' he said.
Puea Thai front man Pormpong Nopparit said the government had 'mismanaged, corrupted and failed' in its handling of the country's problems. 'We have new information that the government was wrong in ordering its forces to crack down on the Red Shirts,' he said.