Thailand's Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat is facing more and more pressure of stepping down after Thai Army chief Anupong Paojinda and two of the five coalition parties asked him to resign in the last two days.
According to local media reports, Somchai will hold a press conference at Don Muaeng airport on Friday afternoon on returning from a trip to Ayutthaya province.
It's being rumored that the prime minister is to announce his resignation during the press conference, which is held a day after Thailand's army chief Anupong Paojinda called on Somchai to step down to take responsibility for the Oct. 7 clashes between police and People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demonstrators, which left two people killed and more than 400 injured.
Deputy leader of Chart Thai party Somsak Prissananantakul said he backed the stance of Anupong, who demanded Somchai to take responsibility because of public unease over police firing teargas canisters to break up protesters outside parliament.
Meanwhile, leader of Matchimathipataya party Anongwan Thepsuthin said her party is willing to withdraw from the government if it is a resolution from the coalition parties. She said Somchai should listen to the opinion of Anupong.
In an hour-long interview on Channel 3 on Thursday, Anupong reiterated responsibility must be taken because of public unease over what happened on Oct. 7.
"If the government gave the order, it has to take responsibility. If the people cannot tolerate it, there will be chaos and the matter will not be put to an end," he said.
The rally tried unsuccessfully to prevent the government from declaring its policy in parliament on Oct. 7. At the end of the day, two people were dead and more than 400 were injured, some critically.
Since then, the prime minister has come under heavy criticism for overreacting to the protest.
A source close to Anupong was quoted as saying by the Bangkok Post that the army chief wanted Somchai to step down, not to dissolve the House, to end the political turmoil.
"He does not want a coup. So, the prime minister must resign," said the source.
(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2008)
