No elections until violence ceases, warns Thailand's PM

Published on Sunday 23 May 2010 23:30

THAILAND'S prime minister yesterday extended a night-time curfew in the capital and said he would consider early elections only after the violence that has racked the nation for the past two months is completely over.

Elections are seen as a key step toward healing the deep divide that has split Thailand between supporters of prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the so-called Red Shirts, who are made up mainly of the urban and rural poor and see the Abhisit government as elitist and illegitimate.

The move came as thousands of residents mobilised in clean-up squads yesterday to clear the streets of mountains of garbage and rubble left by the protests and violence.

Schools, government offices and the stock exchange are due to reopen today, and Mr Abhisit said he will move back to his office from an army base where he had set up a temporary workplace during the unrest. The night-time curfew, which was imposed on Wednesday, was extended through yesterday, albeit for a shorter period, the prime minister said.

The city's two main mass transit systems, the Skytrain and the subway, reopened yesterday after a week's closure. But TAN Network, Thailand's English language television, reported cleaning operations were stopped after troops found 20 homemade bombs near a station.

The rift with the Red Shirts, who have strong support in the country's north and north-east, came to a peak of violence after they occupied the heart of Bangkok, sparking a military crackdown that ended in a rampage of grenade attacks and arson at dozens of buildings, including the country's stock exchange and biggest shopping mall.

In all, 85 people were killed in the violence – the worst the Thai capital has seen in decades.

Mr Abhisit said in a weekly address that while he is still willing to call elections before his term expires late next year, he will not do so under the threat of violence. He accused Red Shirt followers of planning further mayhem, although he stressed the government was in control after a final push by the military to clear the main protest site on Wednesday left 16 dead and more than 100 injured.

"It is now entirely up to me to see when is the most appropriate time to hold the election," Mr Abhisit said. "At the moment, no-one can tell when is the best time."

All but two of the Red Shirts movement's top leaders are now in custody, although no charges have been filed yet.