As civil chaos continued in the capital yesterday with anti-government protesters resisting troops' efforts to contain them, reports that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was being pressured by coalition parties to step down were dismissed by Deputy Education Minister Chaiwut Bannawat, the Democrat Party's deputy leader.
There were claims that coalition party leaders were uneasy about the violence and casualties over the past three days with some allegedly feeling Abhisit had lost legitimacy to run the country because he failed to prevent loss of life. Some allegedly believed the best way out of the mess was for Abhisit to step down.
Industry Minister Chanchai Chairungruang, from the Puea Pandin Party, will meet leaders of other parties today to discuss solutions and a way out of the crisis, a source said.
Chaiwut denied that the Democrat Party had lost the support of coalition parties. He insisted that party leaders and advisers still kept in close touch with the PM and his deputy by phone and through unofficial meetings.
Coalition party heavyweights had thrown their weight behind the PM and the operations of the Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation, he said.
Withaya Kaewparadai, chief government whip, called for ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra to stop pulling the strings behind the civil chaos in Thailand. "Please stop doing this because there is no land here for you, despite your family still being here. We all know you are behind all this mess,'' he said.
Senator Naruemol Siriwat, from Uttaradit, said her group felt the use of force against protesters had tarnished Thailand's image. She said the use of heavy war weapons must be carefully considered because many people were shot in the chest and head over a long distance such as across the road.
She supported measures to mop up the protest by cutting water and electricity and blocking routes that food is being transported to the rally at Rajprasong. She also agreed that the government enforce the law by bringing all criminals to justice.
"But life of the people must be protected by the state. They should be allowed to go through justice channels not shot dead without trial. I am uneasy with the way the situation is developing and the great loss of life," she said.
Senator Siriwat Kraisin, from Nakhon Si Thammarat, said many Senators did not understand why the government changed its stance from reconciliation to a violent crackdown "overnight". If the CRES was confident there were 500 terrorists mingling with peaceful protesters as claimed, it should publicly reveal their names.
Chaturon Chaisang, ex-party leader of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai, said it would not be too late for Abhisit to change his stance and order a cease-fire to prevent more loss of life.
Over 51 per cent of 1,387 respondents surveyed by Dusit Poll supported the government's use of force to dissolve the protest. Some 42 per cent agreed with the PM cancelling the planned November 14 election, while 62 per cent believed the shooting of Major Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol exacerbated the situation.