Former National Legislative Assembly chairman Meechai Ruchupan yesterday expressed concern over the prolonged political conflict, calling the crisis the worst scenario the country has ever faced.
Holding differing ideologies is normal in a democratic society, but the country is in deep trouble when all sides put their interest above the nation's. "They all think how to solve their own problems not the country's," he said.
He also could not think of any way to clean up the political mess because the situation has reached the point where nothing can stop it.
"The national reconciliation that we're trying to bring about is hard to come by because all sides think of their own interest," he said.
Getting an impartial panel to mediate is not easy either because everyone has been branded just by what he says.
"Their attitude is if they like what you say then you belong to their camp, but if not then you're the enemy. They do not think that, okay, we see things differently and together we find solutions," he said.
The red shirts' proposal to dissolve the House and call a general election was no answer to the problems.
"If it were a good way out, they would have done that. They have not agreed to that. Thais can now only pray to Phra Siamthevathirat," he added.
Meanwhile, Nattawut Saikua, a leader of the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship, dismissed Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban's warning that the red shirts were intent on sabotaging the government by waging war against the people.
He said the red shirts had announced that their goal was to bring down the government through peaceful means.
"Sabotage was what happened to the country on September 19, 2006 and when the airport was seized and when the justice system has been undermined since 2007. No one thinks of burning down the country," he said.
That Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva turned down the red shirts' proposal to pardon fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra was not unexpected, as they believe Abhisit does not have the power to do so, he said. "He cannot even appoint a national police chief. He's just a puppet."
He refused to confirm Pallop Pinmanee's statement that rangers would help the red shirts unseat the government, but admitted that they have retired military and police officers to help them.
The red shirts will meet on January 15 to decide which day they would call a mass rally, where and how.
"We hope that we can mobilise a historic high number of red shirts and that we will win," he said.
