The Thai Prime Minister on Sunday said his government still plans to seek reconciliation with anti-government groups.
To that end, it reported that Thailand’s king had approved a cabinet reshuffle designed to help the two groups work together.
Speaking on his weekly Sunday broadcast, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the government would also survey the needs of the people.
Mr. Abhisit presented his five-point reconciliation road map in May as a way to end anti-government protests that started on March 12. He had also promised to hold elections in November if the demonstrators stopped protesting and went home.
The protest continued and the government cracked down on May 19.
During the course of the months-long protests, at least 89 people were killed, including protesters, military, police and civilians not involved in the uprising. Almost 1,900 more were injured.
In the five-point road map, the government recognises the need to narrow widening economic and social inequality in Thailand. On Sunday, Mr. Abhisit said he had appointed a former Bangkok governor and key member of his Democrat Party to survey the public on how to address the problems facing the country.
He said he had also invited academics to look into ways to address inequality.
The moves are seen as a way to address the deep political divide, which, during the protests, pitted the establishment against those loyal to fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup in 2006 but continues to support protest movements against the existing Thai government.
