PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila said he suspected Thaksin's move for reconciliation was merely a ploy.

"We know the truth that ivory does not come from a dog's mouth and democracy is not derived from dictatorships. We do not believe a leader who is violent-prone and dictatorial will achieve reconciliation,'' he said.

He cited the formation of the National Reconciliation Committee by the government as example of a tactic to reduce social pressure and questioned its sincerity.

"The only way the country can achieve reconciliation is for Thaksin to quit and wash his hands off politics unconditionally,'' he said.

Democrat Party deputy spokesman Sathit Pitutecha said that if Thaksin is sincere about national unity he must ask the three remaining election commissioners to resign as three courts have given their recommendation.

Chat Thai Party deputy leader Somsak Prissanananthakul said that if Thaksin really wants reconciliation, he should make the EC commissioners step down and announce he will not accept the prime minister post in the next election.

"If he is still in power, the same old problems will return. We ask the PM to make a sacrifice for the country. If he still pushes for a snap election when a political cloud hovers above, the country cannot break the deadlock,'' he said.

Thai Rak Thai Party deputy leader Sudarat Keyuraphan refused to back a move calling for Thai Rak Thai Party to pressure for the commissioners to resign. She said either way, the party stood to lose on this matter.

"If we commit ourselves [to force the resignations] and the EC commissioners finally resign, it can be translated that the party can control the EC. If the EC commissioners do not resign, the party will also be negatively affected,'' she said.

The party will play by the rules and push for the general election and end all political wrangling, she said.

The Nation