Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra promised political
reforms but said he would not enter into a written pact with
opposition parties committing to constitutional amendments.
The embattled premier, who has been dogged by demands that he
quit, also told a news conference that a committee of "neutral"
people should be established to oversee any changes to the
constitution.
Thaksin said his Thai Rak Thai party is "willing to meet with
all the leaders of political parties that have registered with the
Election Commission," adding that he expected discussions with the
parties' bosses to be held later Monday.
"The Thai Rak Thai is calling on all of the parties to show
their political stance in order to make a social contract ... which
is more significant than a pact" only with the opposition, he
said.
Thirty political parties are registered in Thailand, according
to the Election Commission.
Thailand's three opposition parties had given Thaksin until
Monday to commit in writing to reforms or face a possible boycott
of snap April elections that he announced on Friday after
dissolving the lower house of parliament.
Since January, the prime minister has been under pressure over
his family's US$1.9 billion-tax-free sale of stocks in Shin Corp --
the telecoms giant he founded before entering politics -- to
Singaporean investors.
Some 50,000 people rallied again Sunday night to demand
Thaksin's ouster and protest organisers said Monday they would
continue to demonstrate daily for the premier's resignation.
(Chinadaily.com via agencies February 28, 2006)
