BANGKOK, Aug 31 (TNA) -- Reiterating that he would neither resign nor dissolve the House, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said Sunday he is duty-bound to inform members of Parliament of the ongoing political chaos in Thailand when they meet Sunday afternoon.
Speaking during his weekly TV and radio address, Mr. Samak, also defence minister, said all the 480 elected members of the House of Representatives and 150 senators, of which 76 were elected, will attend an urgent debate which is scheduled to start from 1.30 pm.
"No vote will be cast," said Mr. Samak, adding that the debate, however, will give an opportunity for senators and elected members of the opposition Democrat Party to express what they think of the political turmoil as the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) continues to occupy the prime minister's offices at Government House for the sixth consecutive day Sunday.
Leaders of the six-party coalition government, formed in early February, pledging at a late Saturday meeting, that the government would not budge to protesters' demand calling for the ouster of the government and that they would remain united with Mr. Samak as leader.
As the government and the courts have failed to resolve the political turbulence, Parliament will try to end the crisis, Mr. Samak said.
"Fear is causing damage to the country," Mr. Samak said repeatedly, referring to the PAD demonstrators who have staged rallies against his administration since May 25.
He blasted the six PAD leaders who have mobilised large numbers of people to join the protest, saying that he as defence minister could use tools and equipment to suppress the demonstrators but he did not want to as it could further damage the country.
"They (the protesters) have no right to do this," said Mr. Samak angrily. "What's the final aim of the instigators?"
The protesters want the opposition Democrat Party to form a government and if their plan fails, they would come out again, said Mr. Samak.
"What if the Democrat Party leader would feel if he were me," he asked. The urgent debate is organised as protesters are now also closing two key airports in the southern resort provinces of Phuket, known as the pearl
of the Andaman Sea, and Krabi, causing thousands of passengers, many of them foreign tourists, to remain stranded.
Most of rail services across the country have also stopped, while labour union members of state-owned Thai Airways International (THAI) have also threatened to stop work.
Meanwhile, hundreds of members of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD), a pro-government group, are gathering at Parliament to show moral support for the People Power Party-led coalition government and their opposition to the actions of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).
PAD core leader Maj-Gen. Chamlong Srimuang his the movement would "wait and see" what happens when the parliamentary meeting takes places. Another PAD leader, Somsak Kosaisuk, said the coalition will not sent representatives to attend the joint session of Parliament, but will campaign further for non-violent fight and work stoppages among state enterprise workers and reemphasised that the Samak administration must resign. (TNA)
Political News : Last Update : 11:57:32 31 August 2008 (GMT+7:00)
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