No plans for general elections: Thai PM

[Mid]

No plans for general elections: Thai PM



AFP – Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says he has no plans to call general elections soon and rejected …

SINGAPORE(AFP) – Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Monday that he has no plans to call general elections soon and rejected any deal with former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Abhisit told business executives on the sidelines of a one-day official visit to Singapore, that he wants to ensure political stability and finish Thailand's role as chair of the ASEAN regional bloc before thinking about elections.

"No, I'm not yet planning for a general election," he said in reply to a question.

Abhisit also rejected any deal with Thaksin, the ousted former leader who is accused of orchestrating anti-government protests while living in self-imposed exile overseas.

"I'm here to look after 60 million (Thai) people and I have to treat them all equally. The former prime minister has broken the law, he's been convicted by the courts and so he has to accept the consequences of his actions in the way any other Thai would."

Abhisit said he sees Thailand moving towards a two-party system in the years ahead.

"The trend is clear, we do seem to be moving towards what looks like a two-party system," he said, warning however that Thailand must ensure that this situation will not polarise the Thai people.

On the recent upsurge in violence in Thailand's restive southern provinces, Abhisit said his government would focus on economic development and justice as the key planks of a solution.

"One of the key changes that we will make is to shift the emphasis back to development and justice as a way out of this problem in the southern border provinces," he said.

The Thai government has set up a special committee made up of cabinet members and related agencies to draw up a development plan for the region, he said.

Thailand also hopes to establish a special office that will have a cabinet-level official in charge of affairs in the south, he said.

"At the same time, we are trying to resolve all the outstanding cases that have brought a sense of injustice to the people in the south and also adapt the way our security forces are operating there to make sure it's a more integrated approach," he said.

About 66,000 security forces are deployed in the area bordering Malaysia where emergency rule has been in place since July 2005.

The recent surge in violence in the south included a bloody attack on a mosque this month in which gunmen shot dead 11 people during evening prayers.

news.yahoo.com

[Bobcock]

and so he has to accept the consequences of his actions in the way any other Thai would."

Snigger.....yup....they are all queuing up to accept responsibility for their own actions.....

[EmperorTud]

I'm here to look after 60 million (Thai) people and I have to treat them all equally.

[dirtydog]

Well, apart from the dark skinned poor ones he does

[Warwick]

^ They are Laotian DD, not Thai.

[Mr R Sole]

Give a fu*k what they think...I'm doing exactly what I want...

[good2bhappy]

This is settling down to a Dictatorship

[Loy Toy]

Red rag to a bull and he will be perceived to have broken that very vague promise he made and with regard to upcoming elections.

What does he have to fear if he called general elections? Losing!

I agree with happy it looks like all out dictatorship.

[larvidchr]

He knows that time might be working in his favour if he is lucky

[panama hat]

"I'm here to look after 60 million (Thai) people and I have to treat them all equally.

To quote Tud:

"The trend is clear, we do seem to be moving towards what looks like a two-party system," he said, warning however that Thailand must ensure that this situation will not polarise the Thai people.

So, does that mean that his party will be wiped out . . . or does he believe that they are one of the two major parties . . . in real life, not in his fantasies

[Panda]

He knows that time might be working in his favour if he is lucky

Precisely!

The elite power brokers in government who gained power via the back door now fear facing the people in a general election.

If something dramatic happens which appears to go in their favour perhaps Abhisit might call an election, but thats unlikely.

Abhisit has said previously that he does not want to call an election while the country is so disunified and politically polarized. Basically meaning he knows he would get his arse kicked out of office.

If the opportune time does not come for Abhisit before time is up for the next general election there is always the option of inviting another military coup (all be it a mock coup) ironically, in the name of maintaining national unity and political stability.

The wild card in the stack is when Elvis bows out for the last time.
The only thing stopping a full scale revolution in Thailand now is the militaries dominance over the people and the elite classes use of the military to suppress the people. A split in the military when the old fella goes tits up is probably going to be the deciding point in democracy in Thailand, if they have the balls to take the advantage.

As most Thais are brought up to be basically cowards and go with whoever has the power at the time, I believe any swing in the military base of power would result in a massive swing of support from the majority underclass which would probably be seen as more of a Democratic revolution than just another coup.

But of course there are a lot of "ifs" in there there and I am sure Abahisit is thinking about them too!