World
Thai PM: No early elections until violence ends
(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-05-23 15:33
 |
Large Medium Small |
 |
|
A soldier arranges weapons and ammunition seized from "red shirt" anti-government protesters before a news conference at the Thai Army 11th Infantry Regiment in Bangkok May 22, 2010. [Agencies] |
The city's two main mass transit systems, the Skytrain and the subway, also reopened Sunday after a week's closure, but with shortened timings. The Skytrain also was not stopping at Rajdamari station, which passes through Rajprasong.
TAN Network, Thailand's English language television, reported that cleaning operations at Rajdamri was stopped after troops found 20 homemade bombs near the station.
Schools and government offices were scheduled to reopen on Monday, and Abhisit said he will move back to his office from an army base where he had set up a temporary workplace during the unrest. The nighttime curfew, which was imposed on Wednesday, will remain in force on Sunday and Monday, albeit for a shorter period, Abhisit said.
"So there is some level of normalcy. By next week most people will feel everything is back to normal," he said. "But I don't think things are completely normal. I know quite well that those (Red Shirt) people are active and what their goal really is."
Many analysts believe the Red Shirt movement, which supports ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, could foment unrest for months or even years to come. Thaksin, who lives in exile after his 2006 ouster in a military coup and subsequent conviction on corruption-related charges, has said he supports the Red Shirts' cause.
Abhisit's government took power in December 2008, not through an election but by a vote in Parliament, to fill the power vacuum after disputed court rulings ousted two elected pro-Thaksin governments.
