Thai coalition gov't to carry on in face of protests

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-31 09:57

BANGKOK -- The six parties led by People Power Party (PPP) in Thailand's coalition government on Saturday vowed to remain united and carry on its duties in face of continuous anti-government protests.

Protestors wave the Thai national flag outside the front door to the Government House in Bangkok on August 30, 2008. Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said on Saturday he would not quit in the face of growing protests aimed at toppling his seven-month-old government. [Agencies]

Party leaders or representatives of the six coalition parties held a news conference Saturday night at a Bangkok hotel after holding a parties' meeting. At the press conference, they said that their coalition remained strong and the government would carry on its duties despite the seizure of the Government House by thousands of protesters led by the civil political coalition People's Alliance for Democracy.

They also affirmed support for PPP leader Samak Sundaravej to stay on as Prime Minister, at least for now.

The PPP was represented by Deputy Minister and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee, who is also secretary-general of PPP, and Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Somchai Wongsawat, PPP 's deputy leader. Samak was absent from the event.

Surapong shrugged off the protesters' occupation of the Government House since Tuesday as a "minor problem" that he said would not affect the government's works in running the country. He also said the government has performed well and proper for the benefit of the country and people during the last seven months since its establishment.

He said an emergency parliamentary meeting scheduled for Sunday afternoon on the current political situation will try to find out a solution for the tension.

At the parliament meeting to be jointly attended by the Senate and the House of Representatives, said Pracharaj Party Leader Snoh Thienthong, all parties, whether opposition or ruling parties, should put aside partisan differences and put national interest in first place in discussion.

The Democrat Party is the sole opposition party in the House, holding some one-third of the 480 seats.

Also present were Chart Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa, Matchima Tipataya Party leader Anongwan Thepsutin and Puea Pandin Party spokesman Chaiyos Jiramethakorn.

The meeting took place as thousands of PAD-led protesters continued their rally into the fifth day at the Government House to demand the step-down of the Samak government, which they labelled as a proxy of coup-ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Samak earlier on Saturday vowed to stay put as the head of government despite the protests.

The 73-year-old premier reiterated his stance before a cheering crowd of government supporters at a stadium for a government-sponsored event to call for national unity on Saturday, before he headed for an audience with Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej in His Majesty's current residence -- Klai Kangwan Palace in central coastal resort Hua Hin at late Saturday afternoon.

"I will not give in and resign as demanded by the protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). I will carry on with my duties for the benefit of the nation," said Samak.

However, the premier was absent from spotlight and made no hint of his further decision after he returned to Bangkok from the royal audience in the evening.

The premier has repeatedly said he would not use force to disperse the protesters, but he did not explicitly rule out an emergency decree to be imposed in the capital. Clashes between police and protesters in their see-saw battle on Friday to take control of the Government House compound and accesses to it have seen some injuries among protesters and incited anger among the protesters.

The country's military top brass, including Army Chief Anupong Paojinda, has suggested that the military would not interfere in the confrontations between the government and the protesters by saying that an emergency decree was not due to quell the unrest.