Thai Military Proposes Snap Election

CHAN:
And in Bangkok while protesters are continuing to occupy the airport, the head of the Thailand's military has come out and asked the government to dissolve parliament. Here's more.


STORY:
A month after the Thai army chief appeared on prime time TV calling on Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to resign - General Paochinda has now urged the government to call a snap election.

[General Anupong Paochinda, Thai Army]:
"This is not pressure that we are putting upon the government, but we are suggesting to the government that they should let the people have another chance to make a decision on the future of the country in the new election."

The call comes after a six month anti-government campaign led by the People's Alliance for Democracy.

They began with daily protests outside parliament then on Tuesday, after an escalation in violence, hundreds of supporters stormed Bangkok's main international airport vowing to occupy the building until Somchai resigned.

The prime minister has refused to leave office saying his government is legitimate and he will continue to work for the country.

For the past few days he's been in Peru for an Asia-Pacific summit - on Wednesday his flight was forced to land in Chaing Mai where just hours earlier a pro-government supporter shot dead an anti-government protester. The man was apparently dragged from his car before he was fired upon.

The embattled Prime Minister Somchai was due to address the nation but that was cancelled at the last minute.

It's uncertain what his next move will be until he holds an audience with the King.

Reports suggest he may call a state of emergency in Bangkok, where thousands of demonstrators are still holding their ground.

Their presence has disrupted flights which have been suspended and some three-thousand passengers have been forced to put their plans on hold.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• ntd
• ntdtv
• news
• Thai
• Military
• Proposal
• Snap
• Election

[boonboywow]

PAD. go to hell.

[TupBok]

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