BANGKOK, May 6 (AFP): Thailand’s premier on Thursday outlined plans to dissolve parliament in September for polls aimed at ending a political crisis, but suspicious anti-government protesters demanded a firmer timeline.
The “Red Shirts”, who have mounted eight weeks of crippling street rallies in a bid to force snap polls, earlier this week signed up to Abhisit’s peace roadmap which envisages holding a national vote on November 14.
But after a long and bitter standoff, marred by outbreaks of violence that have left 27 dead, they remain wary and want a specific date for the dissolution of parliament before disbanding their vast Bangkok protest camp.
“If there is a positive response to the roadmap, the dissolution date will be in the second half of September,” Abhisit told parliament, but held back from setting an exact timeframe.
“So far overall there has been a good response, including from Red Shirt protesters who have accepted it in principle,” he said, adding he would launch discussions with all the warring factions on Friday.
But in an indication that an agreement is not yet within reach, Reds leader Nattawut Saikuar said they were concerned Abhisit was deceiving the movement, which condemns his army-backed administration as illegitimate.
“If Abhisit wants to play tricks about the house dissolution announcement date, we will continue fighting. We can stay two, three or four months longer,” he said.
“And how can we be confident that people who are on Abhisit’s side will not oppose his plan later?”
The premier said he believed the Reds had “already accepted” the proposal but were resolving some final questions before leaving their encampment, which has paralysed Bangkok’s retail heart.
Thai PM to dissolve parliament in Sept for polls
FE Team | Published: May 07, 2010 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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