PM offers end to 'emergency'
published : 22 Oct 2020 at 09:21
writer: Gary Boyle
ORIGINAL SOURCE/WRITER: Post Reporters
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday night suggested everyone take a step back in the conflict between the government and anti-government movement.
The premier offered to lift the state of emergency but asked his opponents to reciprocate by toning down their speeches.
"I will make the first move to de-escalate this situation. I am currently preparing to lift the state of severe emergency in Bangkok and will do so promptly if there are no violent incidents," he said in a TV broadcast Wednesday night.
"Let us respect the law and parliamentary democracy, and let our views be presented through our representatives in parliament," said Prayut, referring to the cabinet's decision to support a proposal to hold a special parliamentary session on Monday to discuss ways to defuse the ongoing political conflict.
Despite the prime minister's words, anti-government leaders still insist they want him to resign.
Earlier Wednesday, anti-government protesters returned to Victory Monument to press for the PM's resignation after yellow-clad royalists assembled in several provinces, and authorities feared further clashes between the two groups.
The protesters started gathering at the Bangkok landmark after organisers went on social media and identified it as their main protest venue.
Thousands of demonstrators flocked there and repeated their calls for a new government and constitutional changes. They also marched to Government House to submit a resignation letter for the prime minister to sign, but were blocked by police officers.
The protesters vowed to take a step back if the prime minister resigned within three days and ended all legal action against their leaders.
Tens of thousands of protesters marching from Victory Monument to Phitsanulok Road encountered a wall of barriers erected by police officers at the Uruphong intersection.
Since Oct 13, police have detained 77 people, 22 on criminal charges, 54 for violating the emergency decree and one for resisting a police order.
Following Wednesday's anti-government protester gatherings, the operators of BTS SkyTrain and Airport Rail Link responded to the government's announcement by suspending services.
BTS services at four stations -- Sanam Pao, Victory Monument, Phaya Thai and Ratchathewi -- were suspended from 3.30pm until 7pm.
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Vocabulary
- barrier: a bar or gate that stops people, animals or vehicles from entering a place - สิ่งกีดขวางทางผ่าน
- constitutional: correct or allowed according to the constitution - ถูกต้องหรืออยู่ในขอบข่ายที่ระบุไว้ในรัฐธรรมนูญ
- defuse: to make a situation more relaxed by making people feel less angry or less worried - ทำให้มีอันตรายน้อยลง, ทำให้ตึงเครียดน้อยลง
- democracy (noun): a system of government in which all the people of a country can vote to elect their representatives - การปกครองแบบประชาธิปไตย
- parliament: the group of people who are elected to make and change the laws of a country; the building where members of parliament meet. - รัฐสภา
- reciprocate: to behave in the same way as someone else or to share the same feelings as someone else - ตอบแทนกัน, แลกเปลี่ยนกัน
- resign: to leave a job permanently - ลาออกจากตำแหน่ง
- resignation: the act of leaving a job, position of power, etc. - การลาออกจากตำแหน่ง
- session: a formal meeting - การชุมนุม ประชุม
- severe: very serious and unpleasant - รุนแรง
- suspend: to stop for a period of time - ยกเลิกชั่วคราว, ระงับชั่วคราว
- tone down (verb): to make a speech, an opinion, etc. less extreme or offensive - เพลา
- violent: involving or caused by physical force that is intended to hurt or kill somebody - รุนแรง, ร้ายแรง, สาหัส
