Caretaker Thai PM not to resign as pressured

BANGKOK, December 17 (TNA) - Thailand's Caretaker Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has insisted that she will not resign as demanded by anti-government protesters, but she will maintain her caretaker roles until the new government takes office after the upcoming general election, set on February 2, 2014. Yingluck confirmed the stance with reporters after her Cabinet's weekly meeting at the Army Club in Bangkok on Tuesday morning, stressing that her caretaker government will continue working and Thailand's new general election will be held on February 2, 2014 as stated in a Royal Decree issued on December 9. Responding to a demand by the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), led by Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime minister of the Democrat Party, that she resigns to pave the way for a national reform, Yingluck stood firm that a national reform is to follow the new general election, explaining that she cannot step down because the Constitution requires her to remain to be the caretaker prime minister until there is a newly-elected government. The caretaker prime minister, meanwhile, called on all parties to comply with the Constitution by going ahead with the process of the new general election, observing rules and allowing the majority of the Thai voters elect their national leaders. The caretaker premier affirmed that her caretaker administration is willing to support the Election Commission of Thailand (EC) in organizing the forthcoming general election to ensure an honest and fair national polling, in which all parties will be invited to observe. The caretaker premier said she also welcomes forums on national reform, as her caretaker government wants to learn about opinions on the issue and is willing to exchange views in forums, but the national reform is to be supported by the Constitution so that the newly-elected Thai government is legalized.(TNA)