Joint House session is waste of time : NIDA

Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, rector of National Institute of Development Administration, said government MPs only defended themselves and blame the protesters of People's Alliance for Democracy instead of listening to other members of the Parliament's pointing of problems and suggested solution.

"The government should consider itself and resign to open ways for politics to move on. Otherwise, the conflicts within society would become too bad to cure," he said.

People Power Phrae MP Worawat Uaapinyakul said the meeting was disappointing. MPs blamed each other just as in a censure debate. They thought their ideas were right and did not find any agreement.

Suggesting Samak to resign or dissolve the Parliament would not likely to work. The government should ask people whether to take legal action over PAD or allow the rallies. A poll is an option, he said.

The People's Alliance for Democracy yesterday said it was unsure if yesterday's Parliament meeting would lead to a solution for ending political crisis.

Three PAD leaders told a news conference the move by lawmakers was an effort to end political strife. If Parliament comes up with a solution, the PAD is willing to consider it.

Chamlong Srimuang, a PAD leader, did not put high hopes on Parliament. He said as a politician himself he was aware the House could not balance the power of the government.

"If Parliament could solve this problem, we would not have to suffer by staging a sitin like this,'' he said.

Somsak Kosaisuk, another PAD leader, denied it had lost faith in the parliamentary system. It has lost faith in politicians, however.

Pibhop Dongchai, a PAD leader, said Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej had a record of violating human rights, aggressiveness and resorting to violence. His political etiquette is poor and he is accused of corruption, he added.

"We have to exert pressure to beat a person like this. If we do not win, the country will be in great danger,'' he said.

Chamlong denied the PAD fired teargas at police. Civilians cannot buy the gas, he said, adding only the police have access.

Pibhop dismissed police claims the tear gassing was the work of a third party. That is just a "lame excuse".

The PAD will look at the situation if the government decides to replace its leader.

Chamlong denied the PAD supported the Democrat Party as the next government. It supports no particular party.

Sondhi Limthongkul, a PAD leader, told foreign news media the Democrats were the best choice.

"He was misinterpreted. He would not have said that,'' Chamlong said.

Pibhop praised the people for their full support of the historic protest and was confident they would not back off.

Chamlong said state enterprise strikes were initiated by those organisations alone, and he believed they would intensify if the government did not resign.

"What is the greater loss to the country? The public being deprived of buses and planes or the damage that could occur if the government continues in power?

"If Samak worries about the public, he should resign,'' he said.

He said there would not come a time when the people were so upset with the government for another 100 years.

Pibhop defended the PAD's storming of government buildings as exercising a democratic right.

"In other countries, if the government faced such public opposition, it would have resigned long ago,'' he said.

Chamlong asked PAD supporters to leave buildings of Government House and rest.

Chamlong feared PAD rivals could set these buildings on fire and blame it on the group. This will lose it the struggle, he added.

He said the PAD would gather outside the building. He has been given information the police are about to act against it.

The group has provided portable toilets and tents for protesters.