Thai PM Meets with King to Discuss Political Crisis
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej was due to meet with the Thai king yesterday to discuss the current political crisis in Thailand, but the meeting was instead rescheduled for today at the king’s Klai Kangwon Palace in Hua Hin. The name of the royal residence translates as ‘far from worries’ but the king will certainly be concerned about the current events in Thailand. Although Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, King Bhumibol retains enormous influence because of his popularity with the people. He is certainly no stranger to political crises and coups which have occurred at numerous times during his sixty-two year reign.
PM Samak will attend an emergency session of parliament tomorrow (Sunday) amid reports and rumours that he had wanted to call for a state of emergency. It has been reported by local sources that the call was rejected by the army commander, Anupong Paojinda, who has allegedly suggested that Samak either resigns or dissolves the government. The army has continually asserted that it will not stage a coup, just as they have done on the previous situations where there has been a coup in Thailand. If Samak is to successfully quell the demonstrations he will almost certainly need the support and backing of the army.
The Thai PM is caught between a rock and a hard place; accused of weakness in not crushing the protests but if he uses force he faces more protests elsewhere. The Thai leader has patiently followed the legal route which has won him many plaudits, but it now looks unlikely that the softly-softly approach will solve the problems particularly now that transport has been affected and there is also talk that public utility workers could join in the protests. If water and electricity services are hit then the army may have to move in to restore order.
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