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           Thailand's Embattled Prime Minister Insists She Will Stay

   by Steve Herman

   Thailand's government is again rebuffing demands from protest leaders
   that it be dissolved to make way for an appointed council to lead the
   country.
   A day after she moved to dissolve the parliament and call for
   elections, it became evident that weeks of street protests against her
   government were taking an emotional toll on prime minister Yingluck
   Shinawatra.
   In brief remarks, she pleaded for understanding that she must remain as
   caretaker until elections on February 2, despite repeated demands by
   the opposition for her to immediately depart.
   The prime minister said she has backed down to the point where she does
   not know how to concede any further. She said she also wants to be
   treated fairly.
   As she left the podium, reporters noticed her eyes welling with tears.
   Outside the Army Club where she was meeting with members of her
   cabinet, demonstrators pressed for her removal.
   The previous day more than 150,000 people had marched to the main
   government complex in opposition to what they label an illegitimate
   regime controlled by Yingluck's brother - former prime minister Thaksin
   Shinawatra. He remains in self-imposed exile to avoid prison time for a
   corruption conviction in Thailand.
   ''
   While the government makes preparations for elections in less than 60
   days, Yingluck's opponents continue to demand that the government
   instead be replaced by an unelected "people's council."
   As one of the more politically open countries in Southeast Asia,
   Thailand's political standoff has raised concerns abroad.
   The U.S. State Department has issued a statement supporting the
   democratic process, including elections. Spokesperson Jen Psaki said
   Washington wants the situation resolved without further violence.
   "Our focus here is on continuing to encourage a peaceful resolution of
   what's happening on the ground in Thailand and certainly we've been
   watching closely as is evidenced by our statement. But there's no
   implication there of any support for any side or anything along those
   lines," stated Psaki.
   In Beijing, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei also expressed
   support for elections.
   Hong said that "as a friendly neighbor China hopes the election will be
   conducted smoothly" and wants to "see that all parties operate within
   the constitution and the law."
   It remains unclear whether the opposition forces will boycott the
   election, in which they would be underdogs.
   One of the opposition leaders, Suthep Thaugsuban, who resigned from the
   Democrat Party, has demanded civil servants report to the protest group
   instead of the government. Suthep, who faces arrest on insurrection
   charges,  has also urged that volunteer neighborhood security forces be
   established to take over from the police, whom he considers to be
   corrupt and defenders of the government.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/thailands-embattled-prime-minister-in
   sists-she-will-stay/1807131.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/thailands-embattled-prime-minister-insists-she-will-stay/1807131.html