BANGKOK, March 18 – Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today declined to respond regarding whether the caretaker government would join the independent agency proposed mediation for a dialogue to resolve Thailand’s political stalemate.
She said it would be pointless to say whether the caretaker government would or would not join the peace process given the announcement by protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban not to submit the names of 10 candidates for the mediation committee as proposed by the six constitutionally independent organisations.
Mr Suthep, PDRC secretary general, yesterday said he would not nominate 10 candidates for the mediation committee as it would be impossible to find neutral persons to fill the positions.
The agencies asked the government and the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) to each propose 10 candidates for the five-member mediation committee.
“If all factions follow His Majesty the King’s remark on performing one’s duty under the rule and with justice, problems in the country should be resolved,” she said.
Asked whether the army could be the right agency to mediate the political impasse, Ms Yingluck said she would not rule it out and has never set any precondition in resolving the country’s problems.
“We only have to set acceptable regulations before the dialogue and the regulations must be in accord with the law. The government is not authorised to act beyond impositions (specified) in the Constitution,” she said.
“It’s good to let a neutral person solve the problems but we need a joint practical resolution. I have repeatedly stressed that I don’t want to hold on to power but it’s my duty to preserve democracy,” said the caretaker premier.
She said the caretaker Cabinet has replaced the emergency decree with the Internal Security Act to strengthen economic and investment confidence among Thai and foreign businessmen.
