Posted by Expressing satisfaction over the calm situation in Thailand on Saturday night, the first day that the four-hour curfew was lifted, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the existing State of Emergency imposed in the capital and surrounding provinces could be lifted at an appropriate time.
Relaxation of the State of Emergency, imposed since April 7, or even lifting it, is possible when the right time comes, PM Abhisitsaid.
Mr Abhisit said during his weekly TV and radio address that the general situation was calm Saturday night and that the authorities continued to monitor the situation.
Relaxation of the State of Emergency, imposed since April 7, or even lifting it, is possible when the right time comes, he said.
The government did not extend the curfew from midnight to 4am in Bangkok and 23 other provinces, mostly in the north and northeastern regions, when it expired Saturday. The curfew was imposed after security forces confronted anti-government protesters on May 19.
Regarding the domestic economy, Mr Abhisit said that during the first quarter this year it grew significantly at 12 per cent, one of the highest rates in the world, compared to a contraction of 7.1 per cent registered during the corresponding period of 2009.
Because of the political turbulence, the Thai economy which had been projected to grow between 6-7 per cent this year will likely fall to 3.5-4.5 per cent, he said. He pledged that his government will put effort in rejuvenating economy.
The most important tool in economic recovery is the government budget for Fiscal 2011, starting October 1, set at Bt2.07 trillion, which sailed through the first reading in the House last week, Mr Abhisit said.
On worries about the rising public debt, Mr Abhisit said it is still “manageable by the government” and Thailand’s public debt remains low compared to a number of other countries.
An independent committee to probe into the political unrest and overseeing political problems is expected to be set up this week, he said.
The programme is beginning to take shape and every organisation should help cooperate so that “genuine national reconciliation could materialise,” he said.
News item courtesy of www.mcot.net/EnglishNews
