New Thai PM to work for 'reconciliation, unity' - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Thailand's new Prime Minister says his Government has a "grand plan" for reconciliation after a prolonged political crisis in the kingdom.
After Abhisit Vejjajiva was endorsed by King Bhumipol Adulyadej as the country's new leader last night, he told the nation that he would work for unity.
During a brief address on national television, Mr Abhisit said reconciliation and restoring global confidence in Thailand were his Government's priorities.
Speaking in Thai and English, the Oxford-educated economist also reached out to foreign tourists and investors who had been scared off by the latest unrest in Thailand's three-year political crisis.
"It is my every intention to restore the image of Thailand that friends all over the world used to know," he said.
He said the Thai people regretted the recent week-long blockade of Bangkok's main airports, which left 300,000 travellers stranded and badly damaged a key sector of an economy already reeling from slowing exports due to the global downturn.
Some officials and analysts have said the travel chaos put a million jobs at risk, at a time when the impact of the global slowdown is forcing layoffs in export industries.
"We will make sure these are things of the past. They will never happen again and we welcome all of you as tourists, investors and partners," he said.
Mr Abhisit said earlier his Government would announce a new economic stimulus package next month. He gave no details of the plan.
He also says he will uphold the rule of law and the democratic process.
For the past three years there have been deep political divisions in Thailand with constant street protests, a military coup and most recently the airport shutdowns.
Mr Abhisit heads a new coalition of parties and MPs who defected from ranks of the former ruling party.
He has said he will not allow outside intervention in the running of his Government, but he is expected to name a member of Thailand's influential military to the defence minister's post and should also reveal his entire cabinet line-up today.
Members of the Democrat party are expected to take the key finance and economic portfolios, but Mr Abhisit will have to appease the smaller parties too as he arranges his team.
The 44-year old dismisses criticisms that he is too close to the military and to the People's Alliance for Democracy protest movement which shut down
No comments:
Post a Comment