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Friday September 5, 2008

Thai Cabinet to hold referendum


Thai PM refuses to step down
Thai Emergency Rule

BANGKOK: Thailand’s Cabinet agreed to hold a referendum on a civic group’s street campaign to oust Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej that has paralysed the government for the last 10 days and raised fears of violence and economic chaos.

The decision – immediately derided by protesters occupying a government compound – came hours after a defiant Samak went on national radio yesterday and vowed he would not step down.

Anti-government protesters sit under ban outside Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday - AP

His combative speech intensified the deadlock with the People’s Alliance for Democracy, whose supporters in their thousands have taken over the sprawling lawns of Samak’s office compound since storming through the gates on Aug. 26.

Describing the alliance as an anti-democratic group and their actions as a shameful embarrassment for the country, Samak said he would not bow to its demands.

“I will not abandon the ship, and I will take responsibility for the crew on board,” Samak said, peppering his speech with folksy language. “I am not resigning. I have to protect the democracy of this country.”

Samak said in a radio interview later that the referendum would ask the public if they agreed with the alliance’s campaign and if they believed that the government should resign.

But first, a law would have to be passed by the Senate, as there is no provision for holding a referendum under present statutes. Once the law is passed, it would take about a month before the vote could be held, he said.

“While waiting for the result of referendum, the protesters can demonstrate. I can wait,” he said.

The announcement was met with scepticism from the protesters camped in the compound of Samak’s office, Government House.

“This is just a political game the government is trying to play,” said Pichet Pattanachote, a former vice-president of the Senate who has joined the protesters’ alliance.

Analysts also cast doubt, saying a referendum would be expensive and unlikely to have credibility.

“A referendum is normally used to test public approval on whether to go to war or pass an important law. It would not be effective as a tool to solve a complicated political crisis with many conditions and layers,” said Panithan Wattanayagorn, a political science professor at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University.

Samak gesturing as he arrives at the national radio station.

Bloody rioting between Samak supporters and the alliance left one person dead and dozens injured early Tuesday, the only violence since the deadlock began.

Samak imposed a state of emergency in Bangkok following the violence, but the military has not removed the demonstrators from Government House.

The protesters are living under makeshift tents, and organisers have set up a high stage from which leaders deliver regular speeches between music concerts that keep the protesters entertained.

The alliance has already helped force one prime minister from power – staging demonstrations in 2006 that paved the way for the bloodless military coup that removed Thaksin Shinawatra. – AP

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