Academics, coalition partners back Thai PM's reconciliation plan

Bangkok, May 4 (ANI): In order to achieve national reconciliation and end the political stalemate with the Red-Shirts, Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has offered to hold a general election on November 14.

Abhisit said for the first time that a general election would be held on November 14, but only if five objectives underpinning a national conciliation were achieved.

The five objectives are: The monarchy must not be used as a tool in political conflicts; the country must be reformed by tackling economic disparities and inequality; the media must refrain from reports which exacerbate social or political conflicts; an independent fact-finding panel must be appointed to review fatal incidents involving security forces and protesters; and the reconciliation process must be carried out with the cooperation of all sides.

Meanwhile, academics and coalition partners have backed Prime Minister Abhisit's reconciliation plan, The Bangkok Post reports.

The Deputy Dean at Thammasat University, Harirak Sutabutr, said he agrees with the national reconciliation road map to end the political stalemate.

However, Harirak opposed the plan to dissolve the House of Representatives, as both the government and the opposition would do everything they could to win at the general election.

The Ruam Chart Pattana Party, a coalition partner, agreed with the national reconciliation road map and the planned November 14 general election, The Bangkok Post reports.

Party leader and Energy Minister Wannarat Channukul said: "If all parties accept the reconciliation plan, the negative impact of political uncertainty on the economy will be minimised and the country can move forward."

He said the government was awaiting a response from leaders of the United front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), but he believed they would agree with the road map.

Commerce Minister and secretary-general of the Bhumjaithai Party Porntiva Nakasai took the same tone, The Bangkok Post reports.

Porntiva said on Tuesday that the proposed road map was acceptable to Bhumjaithai, the Democrat's main coalition partner, and that she thought November 14 was a suitable timeframe. ANI)