pave the way for a general election, a close aide says.
Sirichoke Sopha yesterday told a news conference at the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) that the House could be dissolved between Sept 15 and 30.
That would fit in with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's plan to hold a new election on Nov 14 and meet the requirements of the constitution.
The charter requires that a fresh poll be held within 45 to 60 days of parliament being dissolved.
Mr Sirichoke's remarks follow the statements by red shirt protest leaders on Tuesday that they would continue with their rally until the prime minister announced a firm date for a dissolution of the House.
If they decide to continue their rally, the government would have no choice but to take legal and other decisive action.
A source at the CRES said the prime minister had asked army chief Anupong Paojinda to ensure the red shirt protesters were returned home.
Details of protesters and their photos would be recorded before they would be allowed to leave for home, the source said. Troops with the Internal Security Operations Command in all provinces would later be sent to talk to them.
Mr Sirichoke, in discussing a time frame for the dissolution, stressed that the government needed to pass the budget bill for the coming fiscal year, which starts on Oct 1, to ensure political problems do not hinder the economy."The road map is not a way out for the government or the leaders of the red shirt people," he said.
"It is the key government offer to solve the problems because it does not want any loss of life as all of us are Thais."
Mr Sirichoke, a Democrat MP, denied the reconciliation plan was intended to grant amnesties to wrongdoers, the masterminds of terror attacks or those who had plotted to topple the royal institution.
He said government agencies, including the Department of Special Investigation, were taking legal action to prosecute wrongdoers and this process would take time.
"It is not easy and it will take time. Violent action to solve the problem would only create new, bigger and more complicated problems."
The reconciliation plan was intended to separate innocent protesters who were misled and used as human shields from terrorists, Mr Sirichoke said. Otherwise, government action might hurt innocent people.
"It is time for us to send the protesters home and take decisive action against the terrorists."
Red shirt leader Veera Musikhapong yesterday said the prime minister's proposed election date had brought the UDD's protest nearer to an end. The demonstrators were only waiting for Mr Abhisit to set a clear date for the dissolution of the House and then they would go home.










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