Thai Cabinet agrees to hold referendum to ease crisis

BANGKOK, Sept 4 (TNA) - The Thai government's special cabinet meeting
Thursday agreed in principle to hold a referendum to seek public opinion on whether they want the government to continue administering the country or not.

The meeting was convened by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej at the Royal
Thai Armed Forces headquarters after he had explained his stance to the
latest situation through the state-run radio station in the morning.

Government Spokesman Wichienchote Sukchoterat elaborated that the Cabinet
has approved in principle the referendum plan after the House has approved
the referendum bill which will be forwarded to the Senate next Monday.

If the Senate approves the proposed referendum, the process could begin
within 30 days or early October. The Council of State will be assigned to
draft questionnaire on the referendum, according to Mr. Wichienchote.

Earlier, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Somsak Prisananantakul said
the Chart Thai Party, a coalition partner of which he is deputy leader,
had proposed a referendum to seek the public mind as to whether the
government should stay on to perform its duty, or not.

Mr. Somsak said the party made the proposal because it believes that the
referendum process is democratic and can address the present crisis.

"It is alright if the People's Alliance for Democracy disagrees with the
proposal, but we must heed the majority of the public.

"I believe it is worth spending (an allocation from the national) budget
for the referendum when compared with losses of revenue and prestige which
the country has got now," he said.

However, Sathit Wongnongtoey, the opposition Democrat party chief whip,
disagreed with the move to hold a referendum.

Mr. Sathit argued that the bill enabling the referendum has yet to be
enacted, and suggested that the best way out to defuse current political
crisis is to dissolve the House and hold a general election.

Some ruling People Power Party MPs, however, welcomed the proposed
referendum plan to seek public opinion.

Mr. Wichienchote dismissed criticism that the proposed referendum is a
government political ploy to buy time, saying the current situation
warranted the action as the anti-government rally has continued for over
100 days.

The spokesman reassured the public that the government could control the
situation after the state of emergency has been enforced in the capital
since Tuesday.