Special Report: Snap general election in Thailand

    BANGKOK, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's former opposition bloc has praised caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Tuesday decision to step aside from office, while an anti-Thaksin coalition led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has agreed to end their demonstrations, but insists on staging a mass rally planned earlier on April 7 before dispersing.

    The Democrat Party, the former opposition leader in the House of Representatives, accepted Thaksin's decision, while Mahachon Party leader Maj. Gen. Sanan Kachornprasart said it was Thaksin's significant sacrifice for the nation and the Chart Thai Party leader thanked the caretaker premier for the brave decision, saying it was a proper move to ease the current political tension.

    PAD core members, including Sondhi Limthongkul, Maj. Chamlong Srimuang, Piphop Tongchai and Somsak Kosaisuk, held a press conference at Baan Phra Arthit here Tuesday night after a meeting to determine the group's stance following the caretaker prime minister's announcement of his decision to step aside.

    Maj. Gen. Chamlong said his Dharmma Army, part of the coalition,would return the space in front of the Government House to public communications from Wednesday morning, but the coalition would go ahead with the mass rally on April 7 at Royal Plaza as earlier planned.

    Sondhi said the April 7 gathering was aimed to assess and analyze last Sunday's general election and its implications.

    Then, the PAD would end its rallies to show respect to the king on the auspicious occasion of the 60th anniversary of the revered monarch's ascension to the throne this year -- in the similar manner that the premier had done, he said.

    The PAD would, nonetheless, reserve its right to examine the premier's conduct through small meetings or seminars, he noted.

    It would allow Thaksin to act as the caretaker premier until the end of this month.

    Should Thaksin continue to be in office when the deadline ends,the coalition would stage mass rallies again to press him to resign.

    The local media mogul turned Thaksin arch critic, reiterated that it was unacceptable that Thaksin remained the Thai-Rak-Thai Party's leader and attempted to forge ahead with his policy through the "nominee" premier.

    He vowed that the coalition would continue to monitor performances of the government led by Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai (TRT)party after the election and would continue to campaign against its major policies on free trade areas (FTAs) talks with trading partners, the privatization of state enterprises and mega development projects.

    Piphop said the PAD would help push for the second-round political reform and encourage an independent panel to work freely.

    Meanwhile, Election Committee of Thailand re-announced late Tuesday that the committee would hold the by-elections in 39 constituencies on April 23, changed from the early schedule of April 9, and the candidates application would start since April 8.Enditem