Pro-gov't Thais rally against early House dissolution in Bangkok

BANGKOK, April 24 (Xinhua) -- The pro-government "various-color shirt" people, who have opposed the early-House dissolution, staged rallies on Saturday in the Thai capital of Bangkok.

The rally started from 7:00 a.m.at a park on the eastern outskirts of Bangkok and the participants chanted songs and waved the national flags, Thai News Agency reported.

The group, which has been led by Mr. Tul Sitthisomwong of Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, condemned the ongoing anti- government protest, which has been held from March 12.

After that, the "various-color shirt" people shifted to Jatujak Market in Bangkok to hold another rally at 4:00 p.m.

The "various-color shirts" vowed they would hold their rally to show their support for the government everyday until the anti- government protesters end their mass rally.

Also, the "various-color shirt" group plans to stage a mass rally on April 30 at two separate places in Bangkok.

The anti-government protesters have been pressuring Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to "immediately" dissolve the lower House and hold a new general election as they have viewed that apart from the House dissolution, there is no other solution to the ongoing political conflict.

But, the "various-color shirts" have opposed the early House dissolution since they believe it would negatively affect continuity of the coalition government's economic stimulus measures.

Prime Minister Abhisit has echoed the "various-color shirts'" view, saying that the government has been listening to proposed solutions to the country's ongoing political conflict from several other social sections.

"The government is considering (political) views from several social sections as I think the society wants to see decision making concerning politics, including House dissolution, to be based on the national interest," Abhisit said.

The solution to the country's problem must be done for the benefit of the majority of the Thai people, "not just for the "red shirts," Abhisit said.