Lawmakers of major opposition party resign en masse to protest

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra proposed a referendum on her future on Sunday and promised to resign if that was what the people wanted, as anti-government protesters prepared for a final push to try to force her from power.

Thailand's main opposition party, meanwhile, announced on Sunday that its lawmakers would resign en masse, deepening the kingdom's political crisis.

Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut told AFP that all of the party's MPs would formally step down "as soon as possible".

"We decided to quit as MPs to march with the people against the Thaksin regime," Democrat Party lawmaker Sirichok Sopha said in televised remarks.

Nine opposition MPs resigned earlier this year to lead the mass protests.

Protesters have been on the streets of the capital for weeks, clashing with police and vowing to oust Yingluck and eradicate the influence of her self-exiled brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The demonstrations are the latest eruption in nearly a decade of rivalry between forces aligned with the Bangkok-based establishment and those who support Thaksin, a former telecommunications tycoon who won huge support in the countryside with pro-poor policies.

The leader of the anti-government protesters, Suthep Thaugsuban, a former Democrat Party deputy prime minister, has called for a final demonstration on Monday to force Yingluck out.

Yingluck said in a televised statement her government was searching for ways to end the conflict.

"We should conduct a referendum so that people can decide what we should do," she said.

Suthep, aware that Yingluck and her party would likely win an election if one were called, has been urging the setting up of a "people's council" of appointed "good people" to replace the government.

Yingluck has dismissed the idea as unconstitutional and undemocratic. She did not spell out the specifics of any referendum but said it was in line with the Constitution.

"I'm willing to listen to proposals from the protesters. I'm not addicted to this title," she said. "I'm ready to resign and dissolve Parliament if that is what the majority of the Thai people want."

Suthep has told his supporters they have to take back power from what he calls the illegitimate "Thaksin regime", but he told them they could not rely on the army to help.

The army, which ousted Thaksin in 2006, has said it does not want to get involved though it has tried to mediate.

Critics of the government say it is illegitimate because it buys votes, but analysts say Thaksin has built up a solid base of support in the countryside with his populist policies, which has helped him or his allies win every election since 2001.

Thaksin fled Thailand in 2008 to avoid a graft conviction but has remained closely involved with his sister's government. Protests were sparked last month by a government bid to introduce an amnesty that would have expunged his conviction.

The protesters have missed successive deadlines for forcing Yingluck out and their numbers have been dwindling. Suthep said if they were not successful in ousting the government on Monday, he would give up his fight.

A spokesman for the Democrats said all members would resign from the lower house of Parliament, where Yingluck's party has a comfortable majority, and join Monday's march.

"The party has unanimously voted that all Democrat MPs will resign because we can't work with the government MPs," spokesman Nipit Intarasombat told the Nation Television.

"This government has no legitimate power."

Without the Democrats, the 500-member lower house will have 347 members.

Reuters-AFP

(China Daily 12/09/2013 page11)