Thai Army chief presses for talks to end crisis

Bangkok: Thai Army Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha Monday urged the caretaker government and protestors to hold talks to seek a peaceful solution to the political stalemate.

After three bombings and attacks over rally sites of the People`s Democratic Reform Committee, including the attack on a rally site in Trat province Saturday and grenade explosions at Ratchaprasong Sunday, the Army chief urged both the parties to resolve the conflict through negotiations, reported the Bangkok Post. The attacks on the protest sites left four dead, including three children, and scores injured over the weekend. A total of 19 people have been killed and 717 injured in political violence in Bangkok since November last year, official figures showed Monday. Prayuth also dismissed the possibility of military intervention, which many have speculated in the wake of the deadly attacks. "I strongly hope to see the problem resolved by peaceful means and to see no more conflict," he said. "What will be urgently undertaken is to see that all sides hold talks" to prevent violence that would severely damage the country, he added. It is the first time the army chief has taken a firm position since the country showed signs of escalating into political violence. Military intervention could lead to more violence and abandonment of the constitution, Prayuth said.