Thai senators seeking general debate to solve politial conflict

Sixty senators Wednesday signed a motion seeking a general debate of the Senate to explore ways of solving the ongoing political conflict, Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondej said.

Bangkok Post online quoted him as saying that a resolution to take a Senate general debate was reached at a Senate meeting attended by 66 senators.

Prasopsuk and his deputies said after the meeting that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will be invited to attend the debate.

The Senate called on all sides in the conflict to exercise restraint, refrain from violence and solve problems through peaceful negotiations, he said.

The decision was made amid a mass rally staged by the anti- government red-shirts in Bangkok since March 12, demanding the government dissolve the parliament and call a snap election.

Nikom Wairatpanich, the first deputy senate speaker, said the prime minister should call a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and the Senate under Section 179 of the constitution as soon as possible to solve the country's problems through parliamentary means.

Source: Xinhua