BANGKOK - Accusing caretaker Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of being insincere
about making political reforms, Thailand's
opposition alliance has announced it will boycott
the April 2 general election.
"It has
become clear that the [caretaker] premier does not
genuinely intend to effect political reforms,
which is central to resolving the current
political crisis," opposition leader Abhisit
Vejjajiva said late Monday. "He is just trying to
play a political game to prolong his stay in
power."
The toughened stance by the
opposition alliance - which
comprises the Democrat, Chat
Thai and Mahachon parties - came after Thaksin
rejected their proposal to sign a joint
declaration binding all four parties to making
constitutional amendments to pave the way for
crucial political reforms.
After keeping
the opposition alliance waiting for much of
Monday, Thaksin announced his rejection of the
proposed four-party pact at a news conference.
Instead, Thaksin invited the three
opposition parties - together with about two dozen
small parties that are legally registered but were
not represented in the former parliament, which
was dissolved on Friday - to meet Monday evening
to discuss how best to proceed with political
reforms.
In what is being seen as
political posturing by both sides, the opposition
alliance quickly rejected the meeting and instead
returned to their respective headquarters.
Meanwhile, Thaksin met representatives
from about 15 little-known parties at the Senate
building. "I have tried my best. It's up to each
party to decide what to do," he told reporters.
From the four-point statement Thaksin read
to the media, it is clear the ruling Thai Rak Thai
party's perception of how best to proceed with
political reforms differs from that held by the
opposition alliance. Whereas the opposition wants
a joint declaration by the four parties that were
represented in the former House, TRT wants all
registered parties to have a say.
More
significant, while the Democrat Party wants a
small panel of seven neutral people to be
appointed by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
to take charge of amending the constitution, TRT
wants a larger panel, similar to the 1997
constitution-drafting assembly, or another
similarly large assembly of charter drafters
chosen from various professional affiliations.
And while the opposition wants specific
changes to specific provisions in the present
constitution, Thaksin suggested that parties
competing in the upcoming election should make
"public pledges" of their preferred amendments
while campaigning.
Meanwhile, the
opposition's boycott was cautiously welcomed by
those leading an anti-Thaksin protest at Sanam
Luang, a large public ground near the Grand Palace
in Bangkok. The protest, a successor to similar
rallies that have been held almost weekly for
months, had originally been planned for a single
day but was extended after Thaksin made his snap
election call on Friday.
"It's good that
the opposition still has some conscience," said
anti-Thaksin crusader Sondhi Limthongkul, a media
mogul and former Thaksin ally who turned against
the premier last year. "They [opposition parties]
know if they play along with the TRT's games, they
will end up supporting a dictatorship in the guise
of democracy."
However, he doubted the
opposition's move would significantly affect the
campaign to oust Thaksin.
"We have
believed all along that it's people power that
will help achieve our objective," Sondhi said.
