Thai voters to decide on stand-off

Thai voters to decide on stand-off
By Amy Kazmin in Bangkok

Published: September 4 2008 03:10 | Last updated: September 4 2008 16:36


Thailand’s embattled prime minister plans to hold a referendum to resolve a stand-off between his administration and protesters seeking to oust him and prompt an overhaul of the political ­system.

EDITOR’S CHOICE
New guise as defender of Thai democracy - Sep-04Pressure mounts for Thai PM to quit - Sep-03Thai PM declares state of emergency - Sep-02Thai protests seek overhaul of democracy - Sep-02Editorial comment: Thailand must resist mob rule - Sep-02Fall in oil boosts jittery Asian markets - Sep-02On Thursday, after firmly rejecting suggestions that he dissolve parliament and call fresh elections, Samak Sundaravej said he would ask voters to decide how the crisis should be resolved.

The cabinet approved the referendum plan in a special meeting, although a government spokesman said ministers had not yet decided precisely what questions should be on the ballot. The Senate must also approve a referendum law before the vote can take place.

In an early-morning radio address, Mr Samak said Thais must choose between parliamentary democracy and the so-called “new politics” proposed by the People’s Alliance for Democracy, whose supporters are disillusioned with “one man, one vote” and want to see a primarily appointed legislature.

“I will not resign and I will not dissolve parliament. I will stay on to protect democracy,” Mr Samak said. “I control this boat and I will not jump ship.”

However, members of the PAD, who led the 2006 protests against Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister, that precipitated a military coup, made it clear that the referendum proposal was not sufficient for them to end their 10-day occupation of Government House, Mr Samak’s office.

“As long as he insists on staying on, we will not go anywhere,” said Sondhi Limthongkul, a media boss who is one of the key PAD leaders. “It doesn’t matter how many days or years, or even into the next life.”

After half-hearted police efforts to evict the protesters and a clash between PAD members and government supporters that left one person dead, Mr Samak declared a state of emergency in Bangkok on Tuesday, in effect handing control of the capital to the military to restore order.

The army chief, General Anupong Paochinda, has refused to use force against PAD supporters, who are armed with machetes, golf clubs and some firearms. They have erected tyre and razor-wire barricades around Government House.

Chaturon Chaiseng, deputy prime minister under Mr Thaksin, said the army’s refusal to obey orders and enforce the emergency edict was “80 per cent of a coup already”.

In another setback, Mr Samak confirmed that Tej Bunnag, a career diplomat with close ties to the palace, had resigned as foreign minister, a fresh blow to the administration. “Mr Tej is a bureaucrat,’’ Mr Samak said. “He doesn’t have the kind of toughness politicians have.’’
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2008