Thai PM Rejects Protesters' Demand To Resign Ahead Of Feb Elections

BANGKOK, December 10 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Tuesday rejected demands by anti-government protesters to resign ahead of upcoming elections, and she broke down in tears when asked about protesters' call for the expulsion of her family from Thailand. Ms Yingluck had a press conference at the Army Club after the first cabinet meeting since House dissolution. In response to anti-government protesters' demand for the cabinet to resign in 24 hours, Ms Yingluck said demonstrators should stop their protest as her government already did its best by dissolving the House. She also said that she had not expected such a serious protest and she did not want to see any violence in Thai politics. “It is not that I have no feelings. It is impossible to stop me from having any feeling. We are fellow Thai people. I am also Thai. Do you have to oust my whole family? Don't you let me stand on the land? Now I have retreated to the fullest extent and have nowhere to further step back. Please give me some fairness,” Ms Yingluck said with tears in her eyes before leaving the Army Club on her limousine. At the parliament, representatives of political parties and governmental organisations laid flowers to pay homage to King Rama VII in front of the King's statue on the occasion of the Constitution Day today (Dec 10). King Rama VII bestowed a permanent constitution on Dec 10, 1932. Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and his party members laid flowers in front of the statue at 9.15am without giving an interview to reporters. Laying flowers there on behalf of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said that his party would discuss election strategies on Wednesday and he said he believed that many political parties would run in the Feb 2 general election although the Democrat Party would boycott the polls. (TNA)