Wednesday April 14, 2010
The Cambodia News.Net
(RTTNews) - The secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and a former Foreign Minister of Thailand, says the political crisis in that country (Thailand) is deteriorating by the day and shaking confidence in the region as a whole, as the civil unrest in the south-east nation claimed 21 lives over the week-end.
Surin Pitsuwan said in a statement that the confrontation between the opposition protestors and the government's security forces in capital Bangkok was causing serious concern among ASEAN member-states and the world at large.
The situation was also affecting confidence in the security and stability of the region, and if it was left to deteriorate, it could lead to more violence and loss of lives, besides tarnishing the good reputation of Thailand as a source of prosperity and stability in ASEAN.
Calling upon all parties to the conflict to "exercise maximum self-restraint and to seek a quick renegotiated settlement," Surin said ASEAN would help de-fuse the situation, if requested, without interfering in the internal affairs of the country.
His cautionary words came as Thailand's "Red Shirts" prepared to stage more anti-government protests and vowed to increase pressure on Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Prime Minister, in their bid to force him to have the parliament dissolved and have elections ordered.
Meanwhile, the government finally decided to act tough, after weeks of restraint, saying it would hunt down what it called the terrorists responsible for the country's worst violence in 18 years. It ordered police to hunt down armed demonstrators who were captured by security cameras and other devices during the protests.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry of Vietnam, concurrently ASEAN Chair, said in a statement that it "wants to see the parties concerned exercise restraint, refrain from violence, and peacefully settle issues through dialogue so as to bring an early stability."
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