Thai PM proposes general election on Nov. 14

Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on May 3 he is ready to hold general election on November 14 to end the political crisis if conditions are met.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on May 3 he is ready to hold general election on November 14 to end the political crisis if conditions are met.

“If all the five targets of the reconciliation roadmap are achieved, the next elections in Thailand might be held on November 14,” PM Abhisit said in a televised speech.

It is the first time that Abhisit has announced a clear date for a fresh election since the supporters of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) also known as red-shirted protesters began holding mass rally in Bangkok on March 14.

Also on May 3, the red-shirted protesters refused to withdraw from areas surrounding Chulalongkorn Hospital in the capital of Bangkok, following an unsuccessful 30-minute talk with the city’s police department.

In another move, police arrested two men belonging to the “red-shirts” on the same day, seizing five AK-47 rifles, a M-16 gun, a carbine, a number of tear-gas and smoke grenades, and bullets.

At least 27 people have been killed and more than 900 others injured, mostly on April 10, in clashes between government troops and members of the UDD, who are mostly poor.

UDD members have demanded for the past seven weeks that Abhisit immediately dissolve the lower house of Parliament and call an early general election./.

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