Jakarta: 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," 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."
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.
Jakarta-based ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia,
Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, April 13, 2010, 18:44