ABOUT A DOZEN PEOPLE WERE HURT ON THURSDAY WHEN PHILIPPINE ANTI-RIOT POLICE, USING BATONS AND A FIRE HOSE, CLASHED WITH SOME 1,000 STUDENT ACTIVISTS CALLING FOR PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO TO RESIGN, REUTERS REPORTED. ARROYO, WHO FACED SMALL BUT REGULAR STREET MARCHES LAST YEAR OVER ALLEGATIONS OF VOTE-RIGGING AND CORRUPTION IN HER FAMILY, HAS BANNED PROTESTS WITHOUT PERMITS. BUT THAILAND PRIME MINISTER THAKSIN SHINAWATRA'S DECISION TO STEP DOWN THIS WEEK DESPITE HIS POLITICAL PARTY'S VICTORY IN A SNAP ELECTION TRIGGERED FRESH CALLS FOR ARROYO TO QUIT. THAKSIN STEPPED DOWN AFTER MONTHS OF POPULAR PROTESTS THAT PROMPTED HIM TO CALL SNAP PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS ON SUNDAY, WHICH HIS POLITICAL ENEMIES BOYCOTTED. 'WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO THAKSIN WILL ALSO HAPPEN DEFINITELY TO GLORIA,' SAID VENZER CRISOSTOMO, HEAD OF THE LEFTIST LEAGUE OF FILIPINO STUDENTS, AS HE LEFT A MARCH NEAR THE MALACANANG PRESIDENTIAL PALACE IN MANILA. ARROYO'S OPPONENTS HAVE MARSHALLED CROWDS OF 5,000 TO 40,000 FOR OCCASIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS IN MANILA'S FINANCIAL DISTRICT BUT HAVE FAILED TO WHIP UP THE KIND OF PUBLIC OUTRAGE THAT OVERTHREW THE LATE DICTATOR FERDINAND MARCOS IN 1986.
