The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has continued to explain the current situation in Thailand to the international community to provide it with better understanding.

Well aware of the dynamics in the current media world and the importance of disseminating information to the public, the Ministry has created Twitter accounts as another channel for reaching out to inform the public about the political situation in Thailand.

The Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister and Acting Government Spokesman, Mr. Panitan Wattanayagorn, said that the Government understands the concern of the international community over demonstrations in certain areas of Bangkok and its hope to see the problems resolved.

Regarding the call for the international community to participate in a process to resolve internal political issues, Mr. Panitan said that there is also a principle governing international relations recognizing the right of any sovereign, democratic country to address its own internal affairs. No Thai government has ever agreed, or accepted any demand, to compromise on the country’s sovereignty and independence and allow any international organization or any foreign country to interfere in Thailand’s internal affairs. He also believed that the majority of Thais would not agree either.

Mr. Panitan further observed that given the complexity of the current situation, the international community would also have to be careful, as it would not want to be drawn in as part of the internal conflict. Nevertheless, the Thai government remains open to exchange views with other countries and organizations and ready to adopt, as appropriate, suggestions that might be beneficial to the country and its people.

He said that the Government is moving forward with the five-point road map to reconciliation, which the international community views as an appropriate way to solve the political situation. In carrying out political reconciliation, the Government is keen to engage all parts of civil society, including the promotion of dialogue with people's assemblies and private sector groups. When the situation has improved, he said, the Government would be ready to continue working with all sides to move forward on the reconciliation plan that it had proposed early in May.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, who attended the 63rd session of the World Health Assembly on May 17-18 in Geneva, stressed at the session that the Thai government would restore peace and order to society as soon as possible, based on international practices.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also urged both the protesters and the Thai authorities to return to dialogue in order to de-escalate the situation and resolve matters peacefully.