Thailand’s embattled prime minister dismissed calls for his resignation, saying that stepping down would not resolve the country’s deepening political crisis.
Anti-government protesters have demanded that Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat resign to take responsibility for violent clashes last Tuesday between protesters and riot police that killed three people and wounded nearly 500 protesters.
It was the worst political violence in Thailand in more than a decade.
“Many groups in society are calling for me to resign or dissolve the parliament,” Somchai said on Sunday in a nationally televised address.
“I am not attached to my position,” he said. “However, I am not confident that is the right solution.”
The clashes turned violent after police fired tear gas to disperse protesters who were trying to block parliament to keep Somchai from delivering his first policy statement to lawmakers.
Somchai was sworn in on Sept. 25.
ACCUSATIONS
Protesters have accused riot police of using excessive force and say they will stage a large demonstration this week outside Bangkok’s police headquarters.
The rally was initially planned for yesterday but would be postponed to pay respect to the two victims whose remains were to be cremated yesterday, protest organizers said.
“I have to express my regret about what happened,” Somchai said, referring to the violence and issuing a renewed plea for reconciliation.
Somchai said he had ordered a fact-finding committee to investigate “what really happened” and another committee would be set up to determine compensation for families of victims.
The anti-government protesters, led by a group that calls itself the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), has occupied the grounds of the prime minister’s office since Aug. 26.
The protests have virtually paralyzed the government and forced Somchai to operate out of a makeshift office at Bangkok’s old international airport.
The protesters regard Somchai as a proxy of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a former telecommunications billionaire who was ousted by a 2006 military coup for alleged corruption and misuse of power.
Somchai is a brother-in-law of Thaksin’s.
The mostly middle-class protesters who back the alliance say they will continue protests if any party associated with Thaksin returns to power.
QUEEN
Meanwhile, Queen Sirikit attended the funeral yesterday of one of the demonstrator killed in last week’s clashes, palace officials said, in what would be a rare royal appearance at such an event.
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