BANGKOK (AP) - Thailand’s fugitive former leader, who called for revolution earlier this week as his supporters’ riots paralyzed Bangkok, urged the protests’ leaders Thursday to join government reconciliation talks.
The government’s call for parliament to meet to resolve the political crisis came a day after Thai authorities announced they had revoked ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s passport for inciting the protesters with his rhetoric.
The former leader told The Associated Press during an interview in Dubai that the move would not restrict his movement as he has multiple passports, including a diplomatic one issued by Nicaragua.
Current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who returned to his government offices for the first time Thursday since demonstrations began three weeks ago, said a special joint session of the parliament would begin the process of political healing next week.
“The true end to the problem will be a collective political solution,” Abhisit told a news conference in his first public appearance since his car was attacked by protesters on Sunday, a day before riots erupted in the streets of Bangkok.
Thaksin, who has been on the run since fleeing Thailand last year, echoed his political rival’s sentiments during an interview with the AP from the Persian Gulf city-state.
“If the government wants to reconcile, I will encourage the red shirts to participate,” he said. “We have to bring both sides together.”
Tens of thousands of his followers paralyzed many parts of the capital earlier this week, burning buses to block major intersections and clashing with soldiers. The protests ended Tuesday in the face of a major military crackdown.
Though both leaders have talked reconciliation, the process of bridging the divide is unlikely to be an easy one.
The protests were only the latest turn in a long-simmering conflict, triggered by the 2006 coup that unseated Thaksin, that has divided many Thais into two groups: his supporters, the “red shirts” who largely come from rural areas, and their opponents, the “yellow shirts,” a mix of the middle-class and ruling elite royalists, academics and retired military. They say the poor accept bribes for their votes and are not educated enough to vote responsibly.
Following a 2006 coup that drove Thaksin from power, elections voted in his allies, setting off prolonged demonstrations by the yellow shirts that culminated in the weeklong occupation of Bangkok’s airports late last year.
Those protests ended after court rulings removed two pro-Thaksin prime ministers from office, paving the way for Abhisit’s rise to power, but setting off the rival _ and most recent _ demonstrations.
Thaksin said he also wanted Thailand’s widely respected King Bhumibol Adulyadej to help resolve the conflict in a bid to quell future unrest.
“I humbly urge his majesty to intervene. … That’s the only solution,” he said.
The 81-year-old monarch enjoys wide support among Thais regardless of political affiliation.
The former prime minister said he plans to stay on the move and won’t be returning to Thailand any time soon.
“If I were to go back now, I think it would add to more violence … more chaos,” he said.
Bangkok was still under emergency rule on Thursday _ for the fifth day _ but normalcy had returned.
Police were still searching for dozens of protest leaders, only three of whom were in custody. Bangkok’s Criminal Court extended their detention Thursday for another seven days.
Unlike the firm crackdown by the military this week on the red shirts, security forces last year did not act against the yellow shirts. And leaders of the yellow shirts were freed from police custody on bail just hours after turning themselves in on criminal charges in March.
Around 200 protesters gathered peacefully outside the courthouse despite a security ban on gatherings of more than five people.
A pro-Thaksin satellite broadcaster, DTV, was raided in Bangkok for “inciting unrest,” police said. Provincial community radio stations in at least three provinces were also ordered to shut down, according to Thai media reports.
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Associated Press writer Barbara Surk reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
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