The Samak Sundaravej cabinet's resolution to hold a referendum to get the public's view on ways to end the political turmoil has come under fire, with claims it would only prolong the conflict.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej is adamant he will not resign. In a radio broadcast yesterday morning, Mr Samak dismissed speculation he was about to quit and said he would stay on to protect democracy.
Two Ramkhamhaeng University students were shot and injured by unidentified gunmen last night while marching with about 100 other students to Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's residence to call for his resignation. The students, identified as Anusak Khian-oon and Apichart Nakrit, were taken to Sri Siam hospital. Mr Anusak, 22, had two bullet wounds in his right thigh, while Mr Apichart, also 22, was shot in the elbow.
POLITICS
A group of People Power party MPs yesterday lodged a petition with the Office of the Attorney-General seeking legal action against senators who took to the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy stage on Aug 29 after police clashed with demonstrators. Surapong Torwijakchaiyakul, a PPP MP for Chiang Mai, said he and 16 other party MPs yesterday petitioned the attorney-general to take action against senators who showed up on the PAD stage. His group also submitted a DVD featuring the appearance of the senators that night.
POLITICS
Representatives of state enterprise labour unions rejected an invitation to a meeting with army chief Anupong Paojinda yesterday. Sources said the State Enterprise Relations Confederation (SERC) and water and electricity labour unions had received an invitation from an unnamed aide to Gen Anupong to attend a meeting with the army commander.
POLITICS
The pro-government group the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) yesterday resolved to end their demonstrations nationwide in an effort to help the government's handling of the political situation. The UDD moved its demonstration site from Sanam Luang to Samut Prakan province after the fatal clash on Tuesday.
NEWS THINK
Deputy Prime Minister Sahas Banditkul is taking charge of the Foreign Ministry while Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej decides who should replace Tej Bunnag.
POLITICS
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said yesterday that Tej Bunnag was pressured by people close to him, including his wife, to resign as foreign minister. Mr Samak, addressing the nation through a Public Relations Department radio network, said he had sought His Majesty the King's approval for Mr Tej to help the government settle the Preah Vihear temple issue.
POLITICS
Police will not hurry to arrest the nine leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) as that might lead to violence flaring, deputy police spokesman Surapol Thuanthong said. Police will try to delay carrying out the arrests if violent clashes appear likely as a consequence.
FROZEN SHINAWATRA ASSETS
The Administrative Court wants more information from Siam Commercial Bank before ruling whether the bank must transfer 12 billion baht from the accounts of two of Thaksin Shinawatra's children to the Revenue Department.
Teachers in Yala who do not have security escorts are demanding the authorities assign guards to them after a colleague was shot and killed recently. About 185 teachers from non-formal education offices in several districts in the violence-plagued province yesterday met in Muang district to discuss safety measures following the death of Thotsathit Samitamuksit.
NAKHON RATCHASIMA : A small bomb exploded inside the Tesco Lotus superstore in Pak Chong district of this northeastern province yesterday. No one was hurt and damage was minimal. The bomb was timed to explode shortly after midnight, leading police to speculate it was intended only as a warning or a threat.
EDITORIAL
Even though it is not yet clear whether Burma's detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has staged any form of strike against the failure to bring change to the country's repressive regime, the international community must take the signals sent so far seriously. And it must try to act on it more thoughtfully than it has over the past many years.
COMMENTARY
While the whole country is breaking apart, Thanatos Preeprem is slowly rebuilding his small community, quietly. For two years, the 30-something artist has been suffering from all sorts of woes; his housing estate called Kheha Nakhon 2 is located less than a couple of hundred metres from Suvarnabhumi International Airport's western runway.
VIEWS ON BLACK TUESDAY
The violent clash between the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the pro-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) in the early hours of Sept 2, which resulted in the death of one person and more than 40 injured, reflects sadly on the future of Thai politics. It is also a reflection of the government's failure to ensure the safety of its citizens.
LET IT BE
Barring any other respectable candidate such as Purachai Piumsombun showing up to register for the race today, one has to admit that this coming contest for Bangkok Governor on Oct 5 looks rather dull.
In Media
Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Somchai Wongsawat has sought cooperation from various ministries to help poor and needy students throughout the country.
PostBag
Mr Arnold's plaintive essay (BP, Sept 3) about the PAD misses the forest for the trees. He rails against the possibility of the PAD taking down his so-called "democratically elected government".
BUDGET BILL
The government yesterday rushed to scrutinise the Budget Bill with budget proposals for two key ministries sailing through the House in a few hours.
