Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva proposed today to hold an election on Nov. 14 under a "reconciliation" plan aimed at ending a two-month political crisis that has paralysed Bangkok and killed 27 people, according to Reuters. Abhisit, backed by Thailand's royalist establishment, rejected a proposal last month by the mostly rural and urban poor "red shirt" protesters to end their occupation of Bangkok's main commercial district in return for elections within three months. He had previously said he would call a poll in December. "This is quite constructive," Weng Tojirakarn, a protest leader, told Reuters. "So we will be discussing the prime minister's proposal seriously." The protesters, who broadly back ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, plan to discuss the proposal on Tuesday. Another protest leader, Jatuporn Prompan, said he was encouraged by the offer but that it contrasted with recent military and government statements warning the red shirts to end their campaign. Analysts say both sides want to be in power in September for two critical events -- a reshuffle of the powerful military and police forces, and the passing of the national budget. If Thaksin's camp prevails and is governing at the time of the military reshuffle, analysts expect big changes including the ousting of generals allied with Thailand's royalist elite, a prospect royalists fear could diminish the power of the monarchy. "The game plan is for the government to make it appear this offer is reasonable. If the red shirts reject it, they'll be seen as the unreasonable party and that will then give the government a chance to go after them," said Roberto Herrera-Lim, an analyst at risk consultancy Eurasia Group. "It doesn't seem like much of a compromise," he added. "This just shows how crucial the timeframe is and the importance of having that reshuffle of the military and police take place before an election. Judging by the goals of the red shirts, I don't think they'll go along with this." The British-born, Oxford-educated Abhisit is under intense pressure to end the political stalemate that has choked off tourism, sparked foreign selling in Thai stocks and prompted the International Crisis Group to warn Thailand could slide into an "undeclared civil war". On Monday, thousands of the protesters remained in their 3 sq km (1.2 sq-mile) fortified encampment in Bangkok's main shopping area, showing no signs of leaving despite the onset of monsoon rains. Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd told reporters the security forces could use armoured vehicles to disperse the protesters, but did not indicate when such a move might happen.
