Academics back House Dissolution

Academics agreed yesterday that the Somchai Wongsawat government was now in a state of crisis and should quickly dissolve Parliament to return the mandate to the people, or there could be another coup d'etat.

Their reactions came after yesterday's violent dispersal of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters around the Parliament building, which led to one protester losing his leg and another his life when his car mysteriously exploded. Several police officers were also injured.

Prof Sombat Thamrongtanyawong, president of the National Institute of Development Administration, said both sides should stop playing politics and dragging the Kingdom into a crisis. He added that the government's handling of protesters yesterday had led to a loss of credibility for the new administration. He suggested that dissolving the House was the best solution.

Prajak Kongkirati, a lecturer in political science at Thammasat University and an expert on political violence, said he feared more violence could lead to another exploitative coup by the military. He said the last coup, in September 2006, which failed to resolve political divisions, was also under the pretext of preventing violent confrontation.

"We're running a high risk of yet another coup, especially if violence escalates," said Prajak, who urged the public to support any calls for peaceful resolution.

Prajak and some other academics also called for a factfinding mission to be set up to find out what happened to those injured and killed yesterday and who is responsible.

Independent political scientist Sukhum Nuansakul supports dissolution of the House as a solution instead of another coup.

Virun Tangcharoen, rector of Srinakarinwirot University, also supports dissolution and added that the government's fate would likely be decided within a day or two.

Sondhi Limthongkul, coleader of the PAD, told supporters earlier in the day that the movement would bring down the administration by 6pm.

Gothom Arya, chairman of the National Economic and Social Advisory Council, said PAD leaders, especially the charismatic MajGeneral Chamlong Srimuang, who is in custody on a treason charge, should urge the protesters to stand down and seek a peaceful resolution with the government.

Chiang Mai University political scientist Thanet Charoenmuang also supports the view that the opposing sides should work things out peacefully.

Yesterday evening also saw a group of peace advocates, led by activist Adisorn Kerdmongkol, holding a vigil at Democracy Monument for peace and to denounce the violence unleashed by both sides.