thaizer.com

Thailand’s government has today approved the idea of a national referendum to let the Thai people decide if they want the current government to continue in office. The agreement was reached during a special cabinet meeting that was called by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. Earlier, the Thai PM had addressed the nation during a special live radio broadcast where he again asserted his stance that anti-government demonstrators would not force him to resign. Samak said, ‘Don’t even think I am going to quit . . . I cannot leave because under a democratic system no group can force me to resign.’

The wording of the referendum has yet to be decided nor has a date for the vote. It is expected that it could take at least a month to work out the details and put it in place. The anti-government group, People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), have already called the referendum a delaying tactic and said they will continue to protest until Samak and his government resigns. Although the anti-government protesters have been vociferous and well organized, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Samak and his People Power Party (PPP) won a democratic election in December 2007. It is believed by many local analysts that if another election were held today the majority of the country would still vote for the PPP. However, nothing is straight forward in Thai politics and during the elections there were accusations that the PPP had been buying votes. Most were disproved, but in one particular instance the Election Commission said that although the PPP didn’t buy votes as a political party, they were complicit by turning a blind eye to the actions of one of its candidates who had been buying votes. This week the Election Commission have recommended to the Supreme Court that the ruling PPP party should be dissolved.

This doesn’t seem to have phased the Thai PM and outwardly at least, neither has the resignation of his Foreign Minister. Depending on which report you choose to believe Thailand’s Foreign Minister, Tej Bunnag, either resigned in protest at the way Samak is handling the current situation or he resigned to look after his sick wife. Either way, it is a blow to the government to lose such a well-respected official. Despite this bad news the Thai leader must have been buoyed by the fact that yesterday’s threatened strikes failed to materialize. In announcing a referendum Samak may have judged that many ordinary Thai people are losing patience with the demonstrations which are having a detrimental effect on their livelihoods in what is a already a tough financial climate.

photo from Time

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