Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday dismissed a fortune-teller's prediction that the country would witness severe violence in the year 2010 leading to a coup, saying he would do everything possible not to create conditions that would allow the situation to develop in that direction.
A fortune-teller made the prediction that after a coup the country would have a new prime minister whose name begins with the Thai letter pronounced "Awe".
"There are people who want to bring about violence but it is my and the government's duty not to let that happen. I reiterate that whoever thinks violence is an answer to this society is thinking wrong,'' Abhisit said.
Asked if he believed the year 2010, which is the year of the tiger, is "fierce", the PM laughed and said: "A tiger is naturally fierce, but the year of the tiger is not a tiger,'' he joked.
He gave his assurance that the government would lead the country to overcome whatever problems it encounters in the year of the tiger and step up to the year of the rabbit. The PM said the government would continue its efforts to bring about economic recovery and national reconciliation and ensure that politics do not become obstacles to development. "We will focus on structural work, mapping out policies and measures for medium and long term, which will be announced at a later suitable time,'' he said.
Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the party would meet on January 4 to discuss the no-confidence motion. They have tentatively decided to grill seven ministers, including the PM.
In his New Year's address to the people, the prime minister said the government's spending of Bt116 billion to stimulate the economy in 2009 had been fruitful as the country had witnessed economic expansion during the last quarter of the year.
The government also aims to reduce the country's logistic costs from 19 per cent of GDP to 16 per cent, and increase irrigation areas by one million rai. It plans to eradicate illiteracy from the country within three years.
To continue economic growth, the government will inject Bt1.43 trillion over the next three years through 6,000 development projects and basic infrastructure projects such as transportation, communications, water management, education, public health, tourism, creative economy and community development, he said
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