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| Rally Pressure Won't Influence Political Decision: Thaksin |
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Thailand's caretaker Prime Minister Wednesday denied resign possibility and ensured that no political decision will be made under the pressure from the mass demonstration outside Government House in Bangkok. Thaksin said during a visit to Buriram province Wednesday morning that any political move should be made under the Constitution, instead of any other external pressure, such as the mass rally outside the Government House since Tuesday. Hours earlier, Thai local media reported that Thaksin was "considering temporarily stepping down" and allow a nominee to run the political reform process. The report from the Manager Online quoted Thaksin as saying "I feel tired and old." But after the official Thai News Agency's TV channel broadcast Thaksin's whole speech, Manager's report seems quoting out of context. "My duty is working for the nation and the people... If I finished my job, why to adhere to the PM position? I am also feeling tired and old," Thaksin said. During his Wednesday speech, Thaksin also called for Thai local media to hold a neutral position. Thaksin, accused of corruption and abuse of power by an extra-parliamentary coalition trying to oust him, said his staff had been in contact with all parties making suggestions to end the political turmoil he said was hurting the economy. "Of course, it has an impact on the economy," Thaksin said after 100,000 protesters marched to his office on Tuesday morning following an all-night rally demanding that he quit. He has declared frequently he will not bow to "mob rule". The crowd, camping out on streets around Government House, swells and ebbs, with only around 2,000 still there on Wednesday morning after an evening rally of 40,000. The anti-Thaksin campaign, which began in September, has worried financial markets concerned that economic reforms and plans to spend $43 billion on revamping infrastructure to help reverse an economic slowdown will be delayed. Fears of violence have been rife since the campaign caught fire in late January following his family's tax-free $1.9 billion sale of the business empire he founded to a Singapore state investment firm. Thaksin said on Tuesday he would declare a state of emergency if the demonstrations got out of hand, an act that could bring troops onto the streets of a country with a long and relatively recent history of coups. Military chiefs, however, said they saw no reason for an emergency decree at the moment. The anti-Thaksin campaign has been peaceful so far, but there is fear that violence would erupt if thousands of government supporters traveling to Bangkok come near the Thaksin foes. About 6,000 farmers with hundreds of trucks and tractors were heading down from the north and were expected to arrive on the outskirts of the capital later on Wednesday. Police said they had persuaded the Thaksin supporters to stay away from Government House to avoid a potential confrontation. |
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