UDD will rally until Abhisit calls an election
Red-shirts to start gathering on Sunday
- Published: 26/12/2008 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
Anti-government forces yesterday promised to begin a mass rally that would continue until Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva calls a general election.
"I do not think it’s necessary to fix the timeframe." PRIME MINISTER ABHISIT VEJJAJIVA
Leaders of the red-clad pro-Thaksin Shinawatra group, the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said they would start their demonstration on Sunday, the day before the government is due to deliver its policy statement to parliament. It would continue until the prime minister dissolved the House.
They said they did not believe Mr Abhisit and his cabinet would run the country honestly.
The UDD leaders and hosts of Truth Today, a political talk show recently removed from state-run television station NBT, said their protest would be peaceful.
Key UDD leader and veteran politician Veera Musikhapong, one of the Truth Today hosts, said the protest would start at Sanam Luang on Sunday about 3pm.
Supporters would show their disapproval of Mr Abhisit.
"Mr Abhisit is not qualified for the job as he avoided military conscription. His behaviour violates the constitution and the UDD cannot trust him to lead the country," Mr Veera said.
Puea Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan, another Truth Today host, said attempts to prevent UDD members in the provinces from joining the protest rally in Bangkok would not be successful.
Natthawut Saikua, a former government spokesman and leading UDD member, said a new strategy had been planned and a House dissolution was the only target.
Mr Natthawut said some UDD members would rally at parliament on Monday, but would not resort to the tactics used by the People's Alliance for Democracy, which seized Government House and both of Bangkok's airports.
Mr Abhisit said yesterday it was far too soon to think about setting a date for a general election.
The government's priorities were to turn the economy around and bring about peace and reconciliation. Only when the job was done would he consider whether to dissolve the House.
"I do not think it is necessary to fix the timeframe," said Mr Abhisit.
When the time was right power would be returned to the people, he said. People needed to be realistic. There were several factors to consider and several pressing matters, including political reform.
He dismissed concerns that conflict within the party over the distribution of cabinet seats could be his government's undoing. The government's stability would depend mainly on its ability to solve the country's problems, Mr Abhisit said.
If the government could not regain the confidence of the public and foreigners, its stability could be at risk.
The prime minister said he had impressed upon his cabinet ministers that they were working against time to achieve those aims and he required a total commitment from them.
He stressed that the government would press ahead with political reform and would bring in people acceptable to all sides to work together on the political reform.
Responding to a warning by social critic Prawase Wasi to beware of adopting the populist policies of the Thaksin government, Mr Abhisit said other countries had also taken necessary measures to jump-start their economy.
Failure to maintain the purchasing power of the people could lead to a severe economic slump, he said.
Dr Prawase warned that embracing Thaksin-style populist policies aimed at helping rural people could be "addictive" without proper management.
Mr Abhisit said urgent measures were needed to ensure people have ready money in their pockets. But disbursements must be controlled with a clear aim to generate returns.
He said his frequent interviews with the foreign press were necessary to clarify the country's situation to the world and win back foreign investor confidence.
Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart was confident the Abhisit administration would remain in power far longer than most people expected.
After the government's policy statement is delivered in parliament, dissident members within coalition parties, particularly the Democrats, could be tamed, he said. He was confident the military would not meddle in politics.
About the author
- Writer: Post Reporters and TNA
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