Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva suggested yesterday it would now be difficult to hold a snap election this year because of the destructive riots on May 19.
The government needed to restore peace and implement its reconciliation programme before holding the next general election, Abhisit said.
However, the premier did not give any new timetable in regard to the election.
Prior to the riots, he offered to dissolve the House of Representatives in the second half of September and call an election on November 14 as part of the reconciliation programme.
During yesterday's meeting with Bangkok-based foreign diplomats and representatives of international organisations and chambers of commerce, Abhisit also said it was still necessary to use the emergency decree to run the country at this stage.
However, the government yesterday lifted the night-time curfew in Bangkok and 23 provinces, which has been imposed since May 19.
Eric John, the American ambassador to Thailand, said the US supported the rule of law and democratic measures adopted by the Thai government.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand said the Thai government had so far handled the situation relatively well and he hoped that the reconciliation road map would be put into action quickly.
Officials from the Joint Foreign Chamber of Commerce in Thailand said the recent riots had not hurt the export sector, but new investment projects were hit and it would take time to restore foreign investors' confidence.
International businessmen in Thailand had also expressed concerns about the execution of reconciliation plans, as well as the transparency of criminal investigation into those involved in the May 19 riots and arson.
Abhisit said his administration did not extend the curfew largely because security agencies were confident they could manage the situation as the emergency law was still in place and that was sufficient.
All public buses, the Skytrain and subway services in Bangkok returned to normal services yesterday.
At Government House, the premier urged foreign diplomats from 76 countries and representatives from international organisations and foreign chambers of commerce to help restore Thailand's image abroad by clarifying what had happened.
Abhisit also asked for co-operation to help disseminate the government's post-riot measures and plan for reconciliation.
During the meeting, the premier was quizzed by diplomats and other foreign representatives with regard to terrorism cases, the timeframe on investigation into alleged wrongdoers and arrest warrants against former premier Thaksin Shinawatra on terrorism charges.
Abhisit said the number of 'terrorists' among red-shirt protesters was relatively small. Most red shirts were ordinary citizens.
The emergency decree, he said, would be lifted when officials are certain the security situation was fully under control. However, the government would continue to push for enactment of a law on public gathering so protests could be handled more effectively.
Another area of concern was illegal war weapons.
"It was clear that war weapons were in the hands of people who had no rights to use them and caused loss. I am sure that if they had never had the weapons in the first place, we wouldn't have lost (any lives). From now on, we have to be more effective as far as war weapons are concerned," he said.
Foreign diplomats were also reassured that inquiries into riot and related cases would be fair, based on guidelines of the Human Rights Commission and National Anti-Corruption Commission.
The Opposition had also requested to investigate the government's and the military's handling of the crisis so a fact-finding committee would be set up soon.
The investigation should proceed quickly without any compromise, he said.
Source: The Nation
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