Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva stresses the government’s firm intention to bring back peace and normalcy to the Thai society

BANGKOK, 15 May 2010 (NNT) – Following two days of violent clashes between state authorities and armed groups in the protesters of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) in downtown Bangkok, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva stated in a televised address nationwide that the only way for the country to move forward would be to end the protest.

He cited that the rally started as a political one, but turned into armed rebellion, with clear effort to topple the government. This is witnessed in numerous violent incidents in the past two days, leading to the loss of lives and property. Authorities have been trying to restore peace by informing the people of the real situation, while pressuring the violent force in the demonstrators so as to terminate the rally.

He stressed that what the government had been pursuing was the only way to bring peace and normalcy to the society with minimal loss. All through the past two months, the government had exercised restraint and tried to find the answers to demands. Even after the talks were rejected, the government came up with the reconciliation plan to satisfy all sides.

He said that it became obvious that the rally now continued in parallel with armed groups utilizing war weapons, carrying out sabotages, harming authorities, the general public, or even demonstrators themselves.

He thus asked for cooperation from the people to join forces to end the rally, so as to weed out armed groups and eliminate danger to the society as a whole.