FROM Bangkok Post website thursday 0100GMT


PM tells public to mail in its support
Urges TRT members to get people to rally

POST REPORTERS

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is aiming to drum up resistance against the calls for him to stand down by urging his supporters to send him mail to support his cause. The embattled prime minister took reporters by surprise when he showed up at Government House with a banner displaying a Post Office box number.

He urged members of the public who ''uphold democracy and peace'' to send in postcards or letters to PO Box 888 as soon as possible so he could have them laid out in front of Government House on Sunday.

''I want people to send them as soon as possible. If it reaches me before March 5, that's even better,'' he said.

He insisted the amount of mail sent would not represent a barometer of his popularity, but would provide a ''demonstration'' by people who do not want to see a bloodbath and who may not necessarily be Thai Rak Thai supporters.

Mr Thaksin's latest move comes after his planned rally tomorrow at Sanam Luang, aimed at countering the anti-Thaksin events carried out by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

Thai Rak Thai members have reportedly been told to try and encourage as many supporters as possible to attend the rally.

Earlier, he issued a million copies of an open letter for distribution to households in an attempt to clear his name from the Shin Corp sale scandal. He reiterated in every forum he attended yesterday that he would not yield to ''mob rule'' and step down.

It was a day filled with rumours, which the subjects concerned tried their utmost to quell. Mr Thaksin dismissed a report that he requested a meeting with Privy Council chairman Gen Prem Tinsulanonda. He also fiercely rejected speculation he was to step down amid reports the military was ready to stage a coup d'etat.

''Some people spread the rumour that I'm resigning, which isn't true. I'm a caretaker prime minister until the elections and the new prime minister after that,'' Mr Thaksin said.

A Thai Rak Thai MP said yesterday that party leaders had ordered constituency MPs to bring as many supporters as possible to tomorrow's rally. The goal is to get over 200,000 people, especially from greater Bangkok, to the rally in a bid to outnumber those attending the anti-Thaksin events.

The source claimed the MPs were told to round up as many people in their districts as they could find by using any means possible.

However, no other new methods were being utilised to try and combat the opposition's tactics, the source said.

''The party should not have lost old-timers like Mr Sanoh [Thienthong] because experience is still important and although we have an inspiring leader, nothing beats experience,'' the source said.

Mr Sanoh, who leads the Wang Nam Yen faction, said some governors had informed him of the order to mobilise people to back the prime minister tomorrow.

Fretting over possible confrontations between supporters and opponents of the prime minister, Mr Sanoh called on Mr Thaksin to scrap the pro-government rally and instead hold talks with the opposition parties, key PAD members and senior government officials in parliament to find a way out of the political impasse.

As the government is working to attract its supporters to Bangkok, the leading opposition Democrats took a different direction. They are heading upcountry in a bid to highlight the urgency they feel is required to oust Mr Thaksin over what they describe as his unethical leadership.

A Bangkok council member said city councillors from Thai Rak Thai had also been instructed to get at least 800 people from each area to tomorrow's rally.

The PAD said the group would step up pressure against Mr Thaksin if he does not resign by their Sunday deadline. ''There'll be no negotiations. We'll remain until he quits. It could be weeks or months, but we'll stay,'' said PAD leader Suriyasai Katasila.

Mr Thaksin's critics yesterday denounced the rally and PO Box announcement, saying they would only encourage more confrontation.

Senator Nirun Pithakwatchara said the violent uprisings in the past stemmed from attempts to divide the public.

Wannatham Kanchanasawat, deputy dean of Sukhothai Thammathirat University's political science faculty, said confrontation was looming and the rally would only make things worse.

''He [Mr Thaksin] has the right [to hold the rally] but it's a double-edged sword. I don't want him to cause further divisions,'' he said.

The Democrat party decided to call off its anti-Thaksin address on Saturday at the Royal Plaza, said party spokesman Ong-art Khlampaiboon.

He said party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva was concerned the party would fall victim to or be used as a tool by those in power.

''Given the information and opinions gathered from all sectors, Mr Abhisit chose to step back in terms of the public address. The decision was based on certain signs and information which I can't divulge,'' he said. However, the party would move ahead with public speeches in the provinces. He also said a highly respected person recently offered to arrange a private meeting between the Democrat leader and Mr Thaksin. However, Mr Abhisit turned it down, he said

Leading peace advocates offer 'alternative' solutions to crisis
PREEYANAT PHANAYANGGOOR

Four leading peace advocates yesterday suggested alternative solutions to ease the current political turmoil, including Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's resignation and a delay to the general election. They also called for the government, the opposition and the anti-Thaksin protesters to hold talks mediated by a respected third party with the aim of finding a joint objective to resolve the political stalemate.

The four peace advocates are Paiboon Wattanasirithum of the Centre for the Promotion of National Strength on Moral Ethics and Values, Gothom Arya, director of Mahidol University's Research Centre on Peace Building, Chaiwat Satha-Anand, director of the Peace Information Centre at Thammasat University, and Wanchai Wattanasap, of King Pradjadhipok's Institute.

They suggested, among other things, that Mr Thaksin resign to break the deadlock and appoint a deputy prime minister who was not a member of the political party as caretaker prime minister to organise a fair general election.

Resignation did not always equal defeat, Mr Chaiwat said. Rather, it could be considered Mr Thaksin's sacrifice for the country and an act to create room for a solution to ease the political conflict.

Mr Paiboon said Mr Thaksin has a number of options, including leaving the political arena for good, temporarily stepping down, or contesting the election but confining himself to work in the legislative branch as House speaker. He urged Mr Thaksin to make a decision within a few days to calm the situation.

The group also called for all political parties to draw up a joint declaration on their commitment to political reform as well as urging the opposition parties to reconsider their decision to boycott the election which could be delayed if they are not ready for the April 2 schedule.

Mr Gothom urged the government, the opposition and the protesters to hold talks to reach common ground. The talks should be mediated by respected people.

He admitted that it may be too late to call for all parties to hold talks with each other given the current tense situation.

''If no negotiations can be achieved, at least the people should have the opportunity to fight in a civilised manner,'' said Mr Gothom, referring to the right to by demonstrators to protest peacefully.

Meanwhile, Mr Thaksin confirmed his decision not to resign during a meeting with around 10 representatives of the Thai Labour Solidarity Working Committee yesterday. Committee chairman Pakdi Thanabura quoted Mr Thaksin as saying that the Thai Rak Thai party would go ahead with the election on April 2

Public confidence in politics slumps
Public confidence in politics has plunged to its lowest point in 11 months, according to the Suan Dusit Poll. Confidence in February stood at 94.05 points, down 3.58 points from January. The survey covered 8,296 people nationwide from Feb 20-28.

The survey says 17 primary indicators had plunged to their lowest level in 11 months.

People have less faith in caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's achievements, with his rating falling to 101.34 points, down 5.35. Public confidence in the government's achievements also fell by 4.49 points to 100.20 points.

The poll said political tensions and uncertainty brought on by the anti-Thaksin protests and the counter-rally being planned by the government continued to pound public confidence in Thai politics

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