Thai PM Wongsawat Will Not Quit
Created: 2008-11-24 19:16 EST
Category: World > Asia Pacific
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STORY:
The Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat greeting the Peruvian President and his wife before entering into a lavish dinner at the the annual Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation. Here again in an official class photo from the summit, wearing poncho and waving.
A stark contrast to what is going on in his own country.
There thousands of protesters, led by the opposition People's Alliance for Democracy, have been rallying in central Bangkok and surrounding it's parliament building, in a bid to topple the government and get the prime minister ousted.
Questioned at the summit, he said he was not going anywhere, and remarked how he was dealing with the uprising.
[Somchai Wongsawat, Thailand's Prime Minister]:
"There is no point at the moment to use stronger measures, we have come through democratic elections, so I am not thinking of resigning at all. The only thing that I'm thinking now is how to solve the problem of the protesters."
The marchers claim the government is corrupt and hostile to the monarchy.
They also say the PM is a puppet of exiled leader Thaksin Shinawatra.
[Wasant Kasemsap, Protester]:
"This thing would not have happened if the government had moral principles. You see the building behind me, it's not parliament, it's a thieves' den full of criminals in there. I want everyone to realize that if we don't stand up to fight, we will not have anything left for our country."
The PM played down the economic impact of the political turmoil, saying a bigger worry for Thailand was the global financial crisis.
[Somchai Wongsawat, Thailand's Prime Minister]:
"I believe that the government has been democratically elected by the people so I do not understand what the protesters want. If the government is going to be ousted it should be by parliamentary elections or by the people in a ballot. I will exercise restraint to the utmost. We have to talk and try for reconciliation. "
The protesters are calling this latest gathering their 'final push', after a five month campaign to unseat the administration.
