Thailand's political stalemate is set to continue at least for now as Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat remained firm on no resignation or House dissolution amid growing pressure from anti-government protesters and the military top brass.
 |
|
Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat listens to a question during an interview with Reuters in Lima November 23, 2008. [Xinhua/Reuters] |
Somchai made a TV speech Wednesday night to affirm that he would stick to the his post to honor democracy and justice, and blamed the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters, who pressed for his resignation, for causing great loss to the country.
Somchai made the 10-minute speech, which started at about 10:10 p.m. (1510 GMT), from Chiang Mai, four hours after his charter plane landed there after a trip to Peru for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
He said he heard about calls that asked for his resignation and House dissolution, but his government came from a legal general election held in line with the Constitution and under the constitutional monarchy, while the PAD has done great damage to the nation's dignity, the democracy system and justice by lawless actions such as besieging the Government House and the airports with weapons.
He demanded the protesters leave the Suvarnabhumi airport, which was paralyzed on Wednesday, and the Government House, occupied by PAD demonstrators since August 26, saying "this has not only caused loss to the government, but also to foreign business people and tourists."
"It is not important if I am prime minister or not, but it is important to uphold the country's dignity, the democratic institution and justice," he said.
The PAD escalated their besiege from Tuesday night to state agencies by storming the Don Mueang domestic airport and Suvarnabhumi International Airports in Bangkok, in an attempt to press for Somchai's step-down, causing cancellations of flights and thousands of passengers stranded.
The PAD also vowed to stay rallying at the Suvarnabhumi airport until Somchai, whom they described as ex-premier Thaksin Shinwatra's proxy, resigns.
On Wednesday afternoon, Army Commander-in-Chief Anupong made a "proposal" to the government to dissolve the House of Representatives after chairing a panel meeting with military and police top brass, business leaders and academics.
The panel was tasked with monitoring the confrontations upon an earlier order of Somchai.
Anupong had insisted that the military would not stage a coup as a way out of the political turmoil, amid growing calls from the PAD to take sides with it. The military also remained actionless as confrontations intensified with shootings and bombings that caused dozens of injuries.
Though declining at least for now to heed the proposal of House dissolution, Somchai praised Anupong-headed panel for "doing a good job".
Somchai said he would call an emergency Cabinet meeting to discuss the situation and counter measures.
(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2008)
