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Thai crisis deteriorating
[Straits Times] THE political crisis in Thailand is deteriorating and shaking confidence in the region as a whole, the head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Surin Pitsuwan, said on Tuesday.'The deteriorating situation in Thailand between demonstrators and government security forces in Bangkok has caused serious concern among Asean member states and the world at large,' Dr Surin, Asean's secretary-general, said in a statement. 'The situation is affecting confidence in the security and stability of the region and if it is left to fester and escalate, it could lead to more violence and losses of lives. This will tarnish the good reputation of Thais as a peace-loving nation, and of Thailand as a source of prosperity and stability in the Asean region.' Dr Surin, a former foreign minister of Thailand, called upon all parties to the conflict to 'exercise maximum self-restraint and to seek a quick renegotiated settlement'. 'Asean stands ready to extend any appropriate support to help defuse the situation without interfering in the internal affairs of Thailand, if requested,' he added. It was a strongly worded statement from the leader of an organisation that follows a strict code of non-interference in member states' internal affairs. Posted by: Fred 2010-04-14 |
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