Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat insisted yesterday in a nation-wide
TV address that he will not resign as the anti-government movement demanded,
adding that his step-down will not solve the country's problems.
Speaking on the state TV station National Broadcasting Services of Thailand
(NBT) on Sunday evening, the embattled prime minister said the crisis facing the
country needs a solution that could solve the conflicts between different sides
and bring peace back to the kingdom.
He said people should think twice before judging on rumors that implied his
resignation or dissolution of the House of Representatives. He said he would not
make such decisions before taking into account all factors.
As for the October 7 chaos, in which police fired tear gas at protestors led
by People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to break their besiege around the
Parliament compound and the Metropolitan Police Bureau headquarters. In the
clash between police and protestors, two people were killed and some 400
injured.
He said some actions have not been taken according to the law and he has
ordered to set up two panels to conduct investigations into the violent
incidents and comforting victims and their families.
He said the government is democratically elected by the Thai people, and the
government has to be responsible for its people and the parliament. He added
that the government adheres to the constitutional monarchy.
He also urged the nation to focus on urgent issues such as the economic woes
facing the nation amid the recent global financial crisis and the ASEAN summit
scheduled to be hosted by Thailand in December.
Somchai said that he deeply worried about the current global financial
tsunami that hit not only the United States and Europe, but also Asian
countries, adding if Thailand had not taken counter-measures in time to cope
with the threats, Thailand might experience a similar financial crisis in 1997.
Another urgent matter is the 14th ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian
Nations) Summit in December, Somchai said. Thailand as the new ASEAN rotating
chairman is titled to host the December Summit and it has the responsibility to
guarantee the summit and related meetings be conducted smoothly, said the prime
minister.
He warned that Thailand's image will be greatly damaged if the domestic
political turmoil affects the summit.
