Gen Prem confident national reconciliation will be achieved

BANGKOK, Oct 11 (TNA) -- Gen. Prem Tinsulanonda, president of the Privy
Council and senior statesman, said he is confident that reconciliation
among the public could eventually be achieved in Thailand.

Declining to say whether it is the right time for the military to come out
of their barracks and to try to solve the country's persisting political
turbulence, Gen. Prem, a former prime minister, said the military knows
their responsibilities.

He declined to answer whether it is appropriate for the military to remain
neutral following the bloody street protests in Bangkok on Tuesday which
saw two persons died and more than 400 others injured during clashes
between anti-government protesters of the People's Alliance for Democracy
(PAD) and police.

Expressing his regret over Tuesday's clashes, Gen. Prem said he could not
predict the future but that he hoped that every one would perform his or
her own duty.

Newly appointed Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Ittiporn Suppawong said
a military coup could not completely solve political problem.

ACM Ittiporn affirmed that the military must obey the laws of the kingdom
and that they would only leave their barracks time when an emergency
decree or martial law is announced.

The military will not pressure or attempt to guide the prime minister's
decision because his position is superior, ACM Ittiporn said, adding that
he believes the prime minister would know what he should in the last
analysis. (TNA)