Thai PM voices support for fresh election on August 3
20 May 2014, 17:12 -- Thailand's caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan on Tuesday called for fresh polls on August 3 in a bid to end the nation's political turmoil, after the military imposed martial law across the kingdom. Niwattumrong told reporters that the government had written to the Thai Election Commission proposing the new date and hoped to 'submit a royal decree' next week for the king to endorse a new national vote.
The premier backed the decision to introduce martial law, saying it could help the proposed election take place, and added that the government would 'engage in reforms before the election', without giving further details.
Anti-government protesters bidding to topple Niwattumrong's government have said there cannot be a new election without loosely-defined reforms targeting the dominance of billionaire former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
A February 2 poll was annulled by the courts after protesters widely disrupted the voting.
The government and army will hold talks 'likely to be this week', added Niwattumrong, who replaced Thaksin's younger sister Yingluck as premier after she was ousted by a controversial court ruling on May 7.
Protesters say the hobbling government lacks legitimacy and are pressing for the upper house of Thailand's parliament, the Senate, to trigger a legal mechanism to wipe out the government and appoint a new premier.
A group of 25 senators on Tuesday sent a petition to the Consitutional Court to rule on the status of the remaining cabinet members.
Thai military invites political rivals for talks after imposing martial law
Thailand's army chief invited both sides of the kingdom's bitter political divide to talks Tuesday, hours after imposing martial law following nearly seven months of anti-government protests. 'We are in the process of inviting both sides to talk but at the minute the situation is still not normal... that's why I have had to invoke martial law,' General Prayut Chan-O-Cha told reporters.
The army chief urged pro- and anti-government protesters not to clash, amid fears of widespread violence as the political crisis intensifies, and added martial law would be revoked after peace and order had been restored to the country.
Earlier the military said their action was not a coup.
Thailand remains bitterly divided between the largely rural supporters of self-exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra and the Bangkok-based establishment, and their southern royalist allies, who loathe him and want to end his dominance of Thai politics.
Months of anti-government protests have seen 28 people killed and hundreds more wounded in political violence.
Three people died in a gun and grenade attack on a rally site in Bangkok's historic centre by unknown assailants on May 15.
'The military will not tolerate any more loss of lives,' said Prayut.
When asked if he intends to stage a military coup, in a nation which has seen nearly 20 successful or attempted coups, the general responded 'don't jump to conclusions.'
Thailand army declares martial law in country
In the conditions of persisting political crisis, the army of Thailand has announced the introduction of martial law in the country to 'keep law and order,' BBC reports. The protest actions in Thailand have continued for more than six months. As many as 28 people have been killed and more than 800 injured over this period.
The opposition forces launched a large-scale action in Thailand on Monday the goal of which is the removal of the current government. The protest action is expected to continue for a week and will include street protests and strikes of workers, according to TASS.
Thai opposition launches new massive protest action
Oppositionists in Thailand are starting a new large-scale action on Monday, the aim of which is to dismiss the current government. The action is expected to last for a week and comprise street rallies and strikes. Protesters' leader Suthep Thaugsuban said that special mobile brigades were set up, and from Monday on they would be 'persecuting' the acting Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan and the other ministers as well. The opposition demands that the government resigns immediately.
In this case, the Thai Senate, the protesters believe, would be able to use its constitutional right to appoint a 'neutral' prime minister, who would carry out massive political reforms in the country, as the opposition demands.
Thai media report with reference to sources in the upper house of the country's parliament that 'senators have completed for 80% the preparations for the appointment of a 'neutral prime minister''.
A meeting between Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan and lawmakers, who will discuss possible ways out of the political crisis, is scheduled for Monday.
However, the acting prime minister has warned his counterparts that he wouldn't make any steps contradicting the Constitution of Thailand. The acting government insists that the only way to change the authorities is through national elections. The opposition that has not won the elections for almost 20 years refuses to vote.
From May 22, employees of state enterprises are set to start a strike to increase pressure on the Cabinet. Thaugsuban has concluded a relevant agreement with labor unions' leaders on Sunday.
The head of the opposition, accused by the authorities of treason, pledges to stop street rallies by May 27, if up to 1 million people don't take to the streets of Bangkok. He added that he was ready to surrender to the police in case his protest actions fail.
'We cannot afford to go on with protests any longer, otherwise the country will suffer serious losses,' he stated.
Source: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_05_20/Thai-PM-voices-support-for-fresh-election-on-August-3-1823/
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