Thai PM Says He’s Trying to Solve Political Crisis

Defending himself at a Senate Hearing, Thai Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva has said that he is trying to solve the political crisis, reported BBC.

Abhisit made the statement as Senate had asked why his government was taking so much time to end red-shirt protests, which started on March 14.

The prime minister said that he was holding wide discussions to find a way out of the stand-off because of parts of Bangkok, said report.

Abhisit, who looked increasingly beleaguered, said that he intended to send mobile telephone text messages to ask protesters to leave the area, reports said.

He told parliament that he would “present a political solution or road-map” to end the crisis, said report.

“To find a political situation, we have to listen (to everybody), not only to the government, politicians, protesters or a group of people who opposed the protests,” he was quoted as saying.

It may be mentioned that Abhisit has been repeatedly saying that he is working on ending the protests, but there has been no sign of increased security pressure on the sprawling protest camp.

At the weekend, he told journalists that the government was ‘in the process of sealing off and cutting off support before we actually move in’ to the protesters’ camp.

But Abhisit had little new to say to senators who were demanding stronger action.

The protesters are camped out behind barricades in the commercial district.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has warned that the safety of the red-shirt leaders cannot be guaranteed if and when an operation to clear the protests commences.