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| Thai PM Promises Reform but Won't Sign Pact |
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Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra promised political reforms but said he would not enter into a written pact with opposition parties committing to constitutional amendments. The embattled premier, who has been dogged by demands that he quit, also told a news conference that a committee of "neutral" people should be established to oversee any changes to the constitution. Thaksin said his Thai Rak Thai party is "willing to meet with all the leaders of political parties that have registered with the Election Commission," adding that he expected discussions with the parties' bosses to be held later Monday. "The Thai Rak Thai is calling on all of the parties to show their political stance in order to make a social contract ... which is more significant than a pact" only with the opposition, he said. Thirty political parties are registered in Thailand, according to the Election Commission. Thailand's three opposition parties had given Thaksin until Monday to commit in writing to reforms or face a possible boycott of snap April elections that he announced on Friday after dissolving the lower house of parliament. Since January, the prime minister has been under pressure over his family's US$1.9 billion-tax-free sale of stocks in Shin Corp -- the telecoms giant he founded before entering politics -- to Singaporean investors. Some 50,000 people rallied again Sunday night to demand Thaksin's ouster and protest organisers said Monday they would continue to demonstrate daily for the premier's resignation. (Chinadaily.com via agencies February 28, 2006) |
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