Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he wants a political solution to a violent standoff with anti-government protesters, signaling he may dissolve parliament and hold elections earlier than previously suggested.
"I, the government and coalition parties have been working together to revise proposals discussed prior to announcing the emergency decree, in an attempt to find a political solution," Mr Abhisit said today in a televised address.
A senior military official said elections may be the only way to end the stalemate.
Mr Abhisit's comments came after month-long protests in Bangkok erupted into violence over the weekend, killing 21 people and injuring more than 800.
‘Red shirt’ demonstrators, many of them loyal to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, remained camped in two areas of the capital today, vowing to stay until Mr Abhisit agrees to early elections. Earlier this month, Mr Abhisit proposed dissolving parliament at the end of the year.
Mr Abhisit came under increasing pressure from the powerful military today to accommodate the demonstrators, as army chief General Anupong Paojinda called for parliament to be dismissed and new elections called.
"Political problems need to be resolved by political means," General Anupong said at a briefing. "I believe that a house dissolution should be the answer.”
Meanwhile, Thailand’s Election Commission today said Mr Abhisit’s ruling Democrat Party should be disbanded.
Together, the comments by General Anupong and the election body’s decision could spell the end of Mr Abhisit’s rule.
Mr Abhisit was largely seen as having the backing of the powerful military, which has traditionally played an important role in the country’s politics, and has not hesitated to step in with coups in times of political instability. But his control of security forces has increasingly been called into question over the past month as protesters repeatedly marched through the capital.
The commission found the Democrat Party - Thailand’s oldest - guilty of misusing campaign donations.
The ruling will have to be endorsed by the Constitutional Court. No date was set for the court to hear the case.
Agencies