Brussels, 30/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 30 January, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton again urged all parties in Thailand “to engage in political dialogue to resolve differences, to respect the democratic process and uphold the rule of law”, and she deplored the upsurge in violence. Underlining that it is essential to avoid a deterioration of the situation, Ashton called on all stakeholders to show the utmost restraint. “Thailand's future is the shared responsibility of all parties. Only a real dialogue between the authorities and the opposition aimed at finding a lasting political solution based on democratic principles within the constitutional framework offers a way forward”, said Ashton's spokesperson.
Ashton underlined her concern at the actions that undermine Thailand's democratic framework. “The Thai people should be as free to exercise their democratic right to vote as to express their right to peaceful protest”, she said.
On 28 January, the Thai government announced that the parliamentary elections brought forward to 2 February would be maintained - although protesters threaten to block the ballot. The electoral commission proposed postponing the elections for 120 days. In the view of Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the parliamentary elections are the best way out of the crisis - a crisis that has claimed the lives of at least ten people. The main opposition party, the Democrat Party, is boycotting the election. (CG/transl.fl)