Thai PM Abhisit Says Border Clashes Won't Affect Election

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Thai PM says border clashes won't affect election

BANGKOK, (AFP) - Thailand's prime minister vowed Tuesday to press ahead with a planned election despite the bloodiest fighting at the border with neighbouring Cambodia in recent history.

Abhisit Vejjajiva said the clashes, which have left at least 13 soldiers dead and displaced thousands, will not halt preparations to dissolve the lower house of parliament soon for a vote expected to be held by early July.

"The border problem will not affect the house dissolution because there will be a caretaker government which has full authority," he told reporters, adding that it was possible that the vote date could be announced next week.

Thailand and Cambodia, which are fighting in two areas near ancient temples along their shared jungle border, have indicated that they are preparing for ceasefire talks.

The neighbours have come under mounting international pressure to end the violence after five days of heavy weapons fire.

Thailand remains deeply divided after deadly street protests last year and the poll is expected to heighten political sensitivities in the country.

More than 90 people died and 1,900 were injured in clashes between troops and protesters during "Red Shirt" anti-government rallies in April and May 2010.

Many of the mainly rural, working class Reds are loyal to Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted as prime minister in a 2006 military coup and is considered the de facto leader behind the opposition Puea Thai party.

He has called on the movement, which has held a number of large rallies in Bangkok in recent months, to vote for the party in the election.

Thailand has suffered years of political instability, punctuated by unrest and military intervention, with 18 actual or attempted coups since 1932, when the country became a constitutional monarchy.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-04-27

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House dissolution to go ahead, says Abhisit

By The Nation

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva insisted yesterday that the Thai-Cambodia clashes would not affect his plan to dissolve the House, adding that a caretaker government could handle the situation.

"Dissolving the House doesn't mean the country has no government. We will continue with our work as normal. More importantly, handling border clashes would not benefit any political parties," Abhisit said.

Concerns over whether the government may have to delay the dissolution of the House emerged after clashes broke out between the two countries last week.

Abhisit has said that he would call for House dissolution in the first week of May, with general elections to be held either on June 26 or July 3.

-- The Nation 2011-04-27

[anterian]

:lol:Of course it won't affect the elections, it will be used as an excuse not to hold them