Thai opposition calls for parliamentary solution to protests

Updated August 28, 2008 20:32:20

Thousands of protestors are still holed up in Government House, refusing to budge until Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej resigns. The government has vowed to end the protest without force and the main opposition party says it wants a parliamentary resolution to the crisis.

Presenter: Linda Lopresti
Speakers: Korn Chatikavanij, Deputy Leader of Thailand's main opposition party, Thai Democrat Party.

CHATIKAVANIJ: We in parliament are trying to avoid the situation from turning into a showdown. We believe that a resolution can be found through the parliamentary process and we are hoping to open a special session early next week in order for us to be able to bring matters that are currently being debated on the streets into the forum of parliament.

LOPRESTI: The protesters though are still hold up in government house from what we understand. How are you going to get them out?

CHATIKAVANIJ: Well, there is now a court order for them to clear the area. I believe that they lodged a formal appeal to the appeals court. I guess we need to await for a ruling from the court of appeal. In the meantime, our position is that everybody needs to first and foremost respect the rule of law and in order to avoid this turning into a showdown, we urge everybody to respect the rule of the law.

LOPRESTI: The protesters though are saying that they are not budging, they are not moving. So is the prime minister do you think about to declare a state-of-emergency?

CHATIKAVANIJ: I can't say for sure, but we have been urging all sides, especially those in power, ie the government, to act with restraint, with patience and seek negotiations in order to defuse the current high level tension.

LOPRESTI: The PAD leaders have dubbed their protest, the last whistle blow in their anti-government campaign. What is your party's position on the PAD which as we mentioned is calling for the Samak Government to resign. In your view is it justified, and has it used tactics which are correct?

CHATIKAVANIJ: On the one hand, there is a constitutional rights for members of the public to protest. So from that perspective, they are not in breach of the highest law of the land. However, there have been breaches of specific laws regarding breaking and entry, public and government property and so on and so forth, which we do not condone. From that perspective, I think they need to also urge restraint on their followers. We are sympathetic with their frustration of the government complete mismanagement of the country over the past several months, their lack regard for decency and normal standard of ethical behaviour. So we understand where the frustration is coming from, but we continue to use restraint and adherence to the law.

LOPRESTI; But have they gone to far? Have they gone for a more aggressive form of opposition to the point where they are perhaps losing support?

CHATIKAVANIJ: They clearly are losing the middle ground. Any poll over the past couple of days will tell you that. So from that perspective, that's something that they need to consider themselves. But as I said, the underlying reasons for the frustration and for the protests in the first place needs also to be taken into consideration. The fact that the PAD movement came together at all was as a result of the current ruling party insistence to amend the Constitution in order to allow the former prime minister and for the ruling party itself to escape from criminal charges and that in itself is not the kind of behaviour that is befitting of an elected government.

LOPRESTI; Is this crisis solvable, because the prime minister does face a number of challenges? There are challenges ahead of him. Can he weather the storm or are his days numbered?

CHATIKAVANIJ: We believe in any case, that his and the government's days are numbered. We believe the judicial process itself will see to that. There are a number of important rulings due in the month of September which will test the ability of the current prime minister and the government to survive.