Embattled Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday he was ready to dissolve parliament in September, paving the way for elections aimed at ending a crippling political crisis.
Thailand’s anti-government “Red Shirts,” who have been holding eight weeks of protests in a bid to force snap polls, have signed up to Abhisit’s reconciliation roadmap, which envisages holding national polls on Nov. 14.
After a long and bitter standoff, marred by outbreaks of violence that have left 27 dead and hundreds injured, they remain suspicious and want more details before leaving their vast protest encampment in central Bangkok.
“If there is a positive response to the roadmap, the dissolution date will be in the second half of September,” Abhisit told parliament, but held back from setting an exact timeframe.
“So far overall there has been a good response, including from Red Shirt protesters who have accepted it in principle,” he said, adding that he would launch discussions with all the warring factions today.
SETBACK
In a setback to Abhisit’s efforts to draw a line under the crisis, the pro-establishment “Yellow Shirts” — who had previously backed him — criticized his roadmap and urged him to stand down.
The group, formally known as the People’s Alliance for Democracy, accused Abhisit of conducting secret negotiations with representatives of the Red Shirts’ hero — former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup.
“The prime minister has reconciled with terrorists by planning to dissolve the House. It’s extremely bad for the country and the monarchy,” said Chamlong Srimuang, a core Yellow Shirts leader.
Thailand is largely split between the mainly rural poor and urban working class Red Shirts and the Yellow Shirts, who blockaded Bangkok’s two main airports in 2008 before a controversial court verdict removed Thaksin’s allies from power.
Top Red Shirts have voiced optimism that the end is in sight for their supporters at the encampment, which is fortified behind makeshift barricades made of piles of fuel-soaked tires, razor wire and bamboo stakes.
One protest leader, however, told supporters to remain on guard, accusing the ruling Democrat Party of having backtracked on promises in the past.
“It doesn’t mean that we won’t join the reconciliation roadmap,” Weng Tojirakarn said. “That’s the resolution we have made by consensus and we will definitely take part, but we do not trust the Democrats and Abhisit.”
OFFER
A Democrat Party spokesman said the prime minister might reconsider his election offer if the protesters do not leave Bangkok, which remains under a state of emergency.
“If the Red Shirts continue to rally, it’s possible that the prime minister will not dissolve the House,” party deputy spokesman Warong Dechkitvigrom said. “From now on, there will be no talks with protesters.”
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