Dharma Army to stay until PM resigns

[Norseman]

BANGKOK, March 5 (TNA)

Influential Buddhist politician Chamlong Srimuang has said his Dharma Army Foundation followers will stay with today's mass anti-government protest until Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra steps down.

The retired major general and popular one-time Bangkok governor is a former mentor of the prime minister.

He is also known as the driving force of a successful, but bloody popular revolt against the military-led government of General Suchinda Kraprayoon In May 1992.

Speaking to journalists after arriving at Sanam Luang in Bangkok, the gathering place of the demonstrators, General Chamlong said his followers were committed to staying as long as necessary to see the prime minister go.

He said he was not interested in a meeting with Mr. Thaksin, all he wanted was justice.

Asked to comment on a suggestion from a number senators and senior academics for His Majesty the King to step in to appoint a new prime minister in a bid to resolve the political crisis, General Chamlong said he was deeply concerned about how divided the nation had become...and failed to understand how Mr. Thaksin could still stay in his post.

The Dharma Army leader also said he did not believe the April 2 general election would solve the problem.