Thai PM mulls ending state of emergency
Anti-government protesters stage a demonstration at the Government House in Bangkok yesterday. Anti-government protesters stormed into Thai Government House compound on August 26 demanding Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej resign and that Thailand's democracy be curtailed, saying only 30 percent of seats in parliament should be elected.Photo: AFP
Thailand's prime minister said Friday he will consider ending a state of emergency in Bangkok, after the army chief refused to use the special powers to evict protesters squatting outside his offices.
Samak Sundaravej declared the emergency in Bangkok on Tuesday after protesters besieging his offices clashed with his supporters, leaving one person dead and 43 injured.
The emergency put Bangkok under the control of the powerful army chief, General Anupong Paojinda, but he has refused to evict the protesters who have occupied the lawn outside Samak's offices for 11 days.
The emergency decree bans political gatherings of more than five people, but that has been ignored by the protesters, who demand that Samak resign and that Thailand's democracy be curtailed, saying only 30 percent of seats in parliament should be elected."There is no need for the state of emergency because no one has complied with it. Since people are not complying with it, I will consider revoking it," Samak told reporters.
"Since they are defying, the decree has not been effective. Therefore I will consult with the concerned officials in a day or two" about ending emergency rule, he said.
Samak appeared to be running out of options for breaking through the stalemate. He has refused to step down or call snap elections, insisting that he would stay in office to defend democracy.
As a compromise, he has proposed holding a referendum asking the public to decide whether he should stay or go.
But critics -- including the head of the Senate and the opposition leader -- slammed that idea, arguing that the balloting would only drag out the turmoil and risked sparking new violence.
"The referendum is going to be a non-starter," said political analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak, of Chulalongkorn University. "We're back to the same confrontation."
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