PM Abhisit: Can dissolve House, resign, if it could improve situation

BANGKOK, March 11 (TNA) – Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva pledged Thursday that he is ready to resign or dissolve the parliament if this can solve the country’s political conflict, but the anti-government Red Shirt movement vowed to mobilise its supporters to the capital insisting that they will penetrate what they describe as a government blockade and the government’s enforcement of security law.

The premier’s remarks came as he replied to a motion in the House session over the government’s readiness and capacity in responding to the ‘Red Shirt’ activists from the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) who are flowing from provinces nationwide Friday to join the group’s mass rally in Bangkok Sunday.

Mr Abhisit reassured Parliament and the public that his government respects the fundamental rights of demonstrators, but said they must respect the law by rallying peacefully and without arms.

The premier cited the Administrative Court’s ruling on October 9, 2008 which indicates clearly that the protesters’ rights will be not protected under the Constitution if they create fear, block public venues and obstruct the operations of state officials.

The government invoked the Internal Security Act (ISA) throughout Bangkok and Nonthaburi, as well as some high-risk districts of other six provinces surrounding the capital to maintain law and order during the Red Shirt protest which is aimed at overthrow the Abhisit administration.

“I reaffirm that the government cannot do anything arbitrarily,” said Mr Abhisit. “The ISA enforcement is different from that of the Emergency Decree because the first is aimed at preventing any untoward incident. We had earlier enforced the ISA in Bangkok, Cha-am, Phuket and Hua Hin and the law did not affect
local people’s daily life.”

The premier ensured the public that his government will by all means do nothing to intensify the situation, saying he never rules out his resignation or the House dissolution, but the decision will be made upon national interest.

“I will not hold on to power. If the House dissolution or my departure will make things better, I have no problem at all,” Mr Abhisit stated. “But a coup is totally unacceptable to me.”

Meanwhile, the UDD key leader and also opposition Puea Thai party MP Jatuporn Prompan announced on Thursday that the UDD will mobilise it supporters nationwide to Bangkok although military personnel have been instructed to obstruct the protesters for as long as they can.

Mr Jatuporn said that the most volatile locations for possible clashes are in the Bangkok suburbs of Pratunam Pra-in and Ayutthaya’s Wang Noi area where he said four battalions of soldiers have been deployed to block the roads. He also claimed there is similar blockade at the central Nakhon Sawan to block red shirt supporters travelling from the North.

The Red Shirt leader said the group’s satellite-based television station People Channel will live broadcast the protesting situation at Pratunam Pra-in, while threatening  that the government will have to countdown its fate if the UDD TV station is ordered closed.

However, the prime minister denied that the government plans to close the Red Shirt media outlet.

Mr Jatuporn said a large number of people will join the rally in Ratchadamnoen Avenue if they cannot follow the event via People Channel.

The UDD activist added that up to one million Red Shirt supporters will join the rally, with three thousand Red Shirt guards providing safety for the demonstrators and media workers.

Mr Jatuporn said the UDD rally will be peaceful and warned Mr Abhisit that he must find a new country to live in if his government fires the first gunshot. (TNA)