Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said this evening that he is planning to end the state of emergency imposed in Bangkok last week to deal with the escalating anti-government protests.
He also called on all sides “to take a step back” to avoid more damage to the country.
“At this point, we all need to take a step back, to step back from the brink, away from the path that would plunge Thailand into disaster,” he said in a television address at 7.00pm.
Prayut said all the voices and demands of the protesters have been heard and they should allow legislative branch to do its work in defusing what he admitted is a potentially explosive situation. He said he expected Parliament to convene a special session to debate the situation on October 26-27.
While cautioning that the street protests would not always produce the result as desired by the protesters, Prayut also admitted that the government strongarm approach would not always work.
“The only way out is a dialogue based on respect for laws and the wishes of the people through the parliamentary process,” he said.
In a veiled reference to the protesters’ demand for a reform of the monarchy, the prime minister said what made Thailand as it is today are the all the major institutions that have been the foundation of the country for hundreds of years. “If we destroy these legacies, we would lose all the important things that make Thailand a unique country as it is,” he said.
Prayut said unless there is more violence, he is prepared to lift the state of emergency imposed in Bangkok. He did not give a timeframe as to when he will end the state of emergency.
“As I am prepared to take this step, I would like to ask you sincerely to take the same path and tone down all the rhetoric that is creating division and hatred in the society,” he said.
