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Troubled Thai PM 'will not quit' Thai PM plans crisis referendum
(about 7 hours later)
Thailand's beleaguered Prime Minister, Samak Sundaravej, has said he will not resign despite mounting pressure. Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has announced plans to hold a national referendum in an effort to defuse the ongoing political crisis.
In a radio address to the nation, he said he would not bow to the demands of anti-government protesters. An exact date has not been decided, but a referendum can be held 30 days after being approved by the Senate.
On Tuesday Mr Samak imposed a state of emergency in Bangkok after his supporters and opponents clashed in the capital, leaving one person dead. In an earlier radio address, Mr Samak said he would not resign or bow to the demands of protesters who have been occupying his offices since last week.
Protesters say the government is a front for Thaksin Shinawatra - the former prime minister, now in exile. A state of emergency has been in place in Bangkok since Tuesday.
"I am not resigning," Mr Samak said, adding that he had a popular mandate to govern. The anti-government protesters - from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) - say Mr Samak is merely a proxy for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup in 2006 and is now in exile.
"These people want the government to quit, but how could I do that if the entire world is watching? It would be embarrassing to do so," he said. 'Threat of anarchy'
He would not dissolve parliament, he said, adding that he would stay "to preserve democracy and to protect the monarchy". "I am not resigning, I will not dissolve parliament. I have to protect the democracy of this country," Mr Samak said in his radio address on Thursday morning.
Mr Samak's comments came shortly after the Thai foreign minister, Tej Bunnag, who was a close adviser to the king, had offered his resignation. He said he was a defender of democracy against a movement that threatened to bring "anarchy" to Thailand.
Divided society "The PAD is an illegal group who have seized the Government House and declared their victory. How can that be correct?" he said.
Thousands of members of the opposition People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) remain in official compounds in Bangkok, which they seized more than a week ago. BANGKOK PROTESTS 26 Aug: Protesters occupy government buildings, demand the government step down27 Aug: Authorities issue arrest warrants for nine protest leaders28 Aug: PM Samak promises no use of force against the protesters29 Aug: Police try to evict protesters but pull back; crowds blockade two regional airports30 Aug: PM Samak rules out resignation, following a meeting with Thailand's king31 Aug: Parliament meets for a special session on the protests1 Sep: A late-night clash between pro- and anti-government groups leaves one person dead2 Sep: PM Samak declares a state of emergency After his address, Mr Samak summoned his cabinet for an emergency meeting, and they agreed to hold a referendum to try to resolve the crisis.
"The PAD will not hold talks with the government or anyone," one of the PAD leaders, Somsak Kosaisuk, said earlier. "The PAD will talk only after Samak has resigned." A government spokesman said the referendum could take place by early October if the Senate quickly endorsed a bill to organise the vote.
Culture Minister Somsak Kietsuranond said the referendum would ask a range of questions including whether the government should resign, whether it should dissolve parliament and what people think about the ongoing protests.
BANGKOK PROTESTS 26 Aug: Protesters occupy government buildings, demand the government step down27 Aug: Authorities issue arrest warrants for nine protest leaders28 Aug: PM Samak promises no use of force against the protesters29 Aug: Police try to evict protesters but pull back; crowds blockade two regional airports30 Aug: PM Samak rules out resignation, following a meeting with Thailand's king31 Aug: Parliament meets for a special session on the protests1 Sep: A late-night clash between pro- and anti-government groups leaves one person dead2 Sep: PM Samak declares a state of emergency3 Sept: Thai FM Tej Bunnag resigns
After hearing Mr Samak's radio broadcast, one of the PAD's leaders, Sondhi Limthongkul, told the French news agency AFP: "His speech only increased my confidence that what we are doing is not wrong. We will not go anywhere as long as he stays."
The PAD has a passionate following in various parts of the country, especially Bangkok, and some powerful backers among the elite.The PAD has a passionate following in various parts of the country, especially Bangkok, and some powerful backers among the elite.
But it has little support in most of rural Thailand, which voted strongly for Mr Samak, and Mr Thaksin before him. Thai society remains deeply divided over the issue.But it has little support in most of rural Thailand, which voted strongly for Mr Samak, and Mr Thaksin before him. Thai society remains deeply divided over the issue.
As the standoff has developed, some unions have begun supporting the protesters. As the standoff has developed, some unions have begun supporting the protesters. However, a strike called by an umbrella group of 43 unions on Wednesday appeared to have failed - one piece of good news for the government.
However, a strike called by an umbrella group of 43 unions on Wednesday appeared to have failed. But the prime minister's attempt to contain the PAD protests with a state of emergency seem to have fallen flat.
This was good news for the government, reports the BBC's Jonathan Head from Bangkok. The army has refused to exercise the extra powers he gave them, arguing that the conflict is a political one that cannot be solved by military intervention.
But the prime minister's attempt to contain the PAD protests with a state of emergency has also fallen flat.
The army has simply refused to exercise the extra powers he gave them, arguing that the conflict is a political one that cannot be solved by military intervention.