Thai army: Tensions ease following House dissolution

The Thai army said Monday that the political situation in the country is expected to improve with the dissolution of the House of Representatives. The political tensions have been eased following the announcement made earlier in the morning by Yingluck Shinawatra, who now serves as caretaker prime minister, to disband the Lower House, said deputy army spokesman Winthai Suvaree Winthai. He said the decision has satisfied all sides to a greater or lesser degree and the army believes that the opposing sides would be able to find solution through peaceful means. The spokesman reaffirmed the army's position to provide protection for all groups of people and help building peace and order in the country. "The army does not want to see the situation escalating to violence because all of them are Thais. We want all sides to consider the results that fighting could bring to the country," Winthai was quoted as saying by the Nation. Earlier this month, army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said the army stands "neutral" in the current political conflicts, urging peace talks between the government and protesters. The dissolution of the Lower House on Monday failed to prevent a huge march by protesters converging on the Government House. The protesters demanded Yingluck to immediately step down and hand power to a "people's council" to pave way for political reforms, aimed to sweep former leader Thaksin Shinawatra's influence in the country.