THAILAND: Thailand's main opposition leader yesterday rejected talks with prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to end a growing political crisis and denied the opposition was inviting a coup by boycotting elections.
"It's too late," said Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party, which along with two other opposition parties has refused to contest an April 2nd poll that Mr Thaksin called last week. "[ People] are going ahead with their protests whether we contest the elections or not. So it's between him and the people on the streets," Mr Abhisit said.
Mr Thaksin, who faces street protests this weekend to force him out, said he was willing to accept any democratic way out of the crisis proposed by the political opposition. "I am ready to talk on every issue," said Mr Thaksin, who called the snap election last Friday to avoid "mob rule" and potential violence in the capital.
Mr Abhisit said a fair vote was impossible without a pact on political reforms as proposed by the opposition, which Mr Thaksin rejected. "This is really not about counting votes. It's about allowing the rule of law, checks and balances. Otherwise, elections would only provide some legitimacy for leaders to steal from the people," he said.
Mr Thaksin had offered on Tuesday to delay the vote to give the opposition more time to prepare. But election officials said yesterday the poll would go ahead as planned.
Leaders of a campaign to oust Mr Thaksin for alleged abuse of power and corruption say he must resign by Sunday or face marches in Bangkok.
The political turmoil has affected financial markets, with the main Thai stock index closing up 0.88 per cent on rumours that Mr Thaksin would meet a close adviser to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, fuelling speculation that he would resign. Mr Thaksin denied the rumours. "I will perform my duty as the prime minister until after the elections," he said.
The telecoms tycoon won a second consecutive landslide election 12 months ago and had seemed invincible until outrage exploded in Bangkok after the tax-free sale of Shin Corp, the telecoms conglomerate he founded, to a Singapore state firm.
Mr Thaksin's support in the countryside, where 70 per cent of Thais live, is thought to be still solid and he urged supporters to mount a letter-writing campaign "to show the majority of Thai people want democracy and peace". His ruling Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) Party accuses the political opposition of betraying democracy.