By Bernama,
Bangkok : Thailand’s Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Suebwonglee on Monday expressed confidence that the ongoing political turmoil, particularly the persistent gathering of the anti-government People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), would not become violent nor result in a military coup d’etat.
“I admit the political disturbances in the past week has undermined confidence in the country’s economy. However, all parties still believe the incident will neither turn violent nor lead to a coup,” the Thailand news agency (TNA) reported Monday quoting Suebwonglee as saying.
The minister made the remark as the PAD-led demonstrations entering its ninth day on Monday with its objective reshaped from protesting amending of last year’s new constitution into demanding the resignation of the Samak Sundaravej administration.
Surapong said the PAD’s call for the resignation of the government remained as an ambiguous objective.
It is too early to make that demand, he said, because the government had administered the country for only three to four months.
“It is unjustified to dissolve the parliament now because there is no conflict in the parliament. Also, there is no reason for the government to resign while it is trying to work to the utmost of its ability to solve the crisis,” he said.
Regarding rumours over a possible coup, Dr. Surapong said he did not believe it would happen because Army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda and all parties concerned in security affairs always emphasised that no one wanted to see the country experience a setback in its political and economic development.