Update: March 18, 2010 During the meeting Pracharaj Party leader Sanoh Thienthong said the red-shirt group's call for the dissolution of the Lower House is not a way out of the political crisis.
He called for a joint parliamentary meeting for MPs and senators to brainstorm on the current situation. He also asked the prime minister and all parties to come together to find a solution to the problem to prevent any unrest from breaking out.
Opposition whip chief from Pheu Thai Party Witthaya Buranasiri slammed the government for not attempting to use parliamentary means to seek a way out from the current political tension. He asked the prime minister to dissolve the House to make way for a snap election.
Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, speaking on behalf of the prime minister, who was absent from the meeting, insisted the premier is open to viewpoints of the public.
He added that the premier's appointment of PM's Secretary General Korbsak Sabhavasu to coordinate with the anti-government protesters reflected his sincerity to resolve the crisis peacefully.
He also insisted the enforcement of the Internal Security Act is merely aimed to empower the military to assist police in dealing with the demonstration. Sanan insisted the soldiers will move back to their barracks as soon as the situation improves.
Pheu Thai party-list MP Chaowarin Ratthasaksiri then raised a question on the political gathering by the red-shirt supporters, directing the question at deputy prime minister in charge of national security Suthep Thaugsuban, who was absent from the meeting. But deputy PM Sanan refused to answer the question in his place.
Deputy House Speaker Samart Kaewmeechai, as chair of the House meeting, ordered the debate on the red-shirt rally to be postponed to next week. The decision outraged several Pheu Thai MPs. Tension was high as the MPs rose up to protest the deputy House speaker's decision.
Samart then ordered the meeting adjourned at 2 p.m. after the MPs became highly agitated.
By: TAN Network
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