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| Thai PM plans crisis referendum | Thai PM plans crisis referendum |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has announced plans to hold a national referendum in an effort to defuse the ongoing political crisis. | Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has announced plans to hold a national referendum in an effort to defuse the ongoing political crisis. |
| An exact date has not been decided, but a referendum can be held 30 days after being approved by the Senate. | An exact date has not been decided, but a referendum can be held 30 days after being approved by the Senate. |
| 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. | 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. |
| A state of emergency has been in place in Bangkok since Tuesday. | A state of emergency has been in place in Bangkok since Tuesday. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Threat of anarchy' | 'Threat of anarchy' |
| "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. | "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. |
| He said he was a defender of democracy against a movement that threatened to bring "anarchy" to Thailand. | He said he was a defender of democracy against a movement that threatened to bring "anarchy" to Thailand. |
| "The PAD is an illegal group who have seized the Government House and declared their victory. How can that be correct?" he said. | "The PAD is an illegal group who have seized the Government House and declared their victory. How can that be correct?" he said. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7597791.stm">In pictures: Bangkok stand-off | |
| A government spokesman said the referendum could take place by early October if the Senate quickly endorsed a bill to organise the vote. | 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. | 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. |
| 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." | 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. 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. | 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. |
| But the prime minister's attempt to contain the PAD protests with a state of emergency seem to have fallen flat. | But the prime minister's attempt to contain the PAD protests with a state of emergency seem to have fallen flat. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Are you in Thailand? Do you believe a referendum will diffuse the political crisis? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Thailand? Do you believe a referendum will diffuse the political crisis? Send us your comments using the form below. |