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LEAD: Police find, defuse bomb at Thai opposition headquarters+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)BANGKOK, March 27_(Kyodo) _ (EDS: UPDATING WITH OPPOSITION REJECTING THAKSIN CALL FOR COALITION) A time bomb containing TNT was found and defused at the headquarters of Thailand's opposition Democrat Party on Monday, officials said. A police bomb squad defused it only 20 minutes before it was set to explode at 10:50 a.m., according to party spokesman Ongart Klampaiboon. A cleaner spotted a suspicious box left at a corner of the building near the exit and reported to the police around 6 a.m., the spokesman said. The bomb was discovered amid political tension in Thailand and less than a week before the April 2 general election called by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra but boycotted by the Democrat Party and another two opposition parties. After a meeting held near the headquarters, leaders of three major opposition parties -- the Democrat, Chat Thai and Mahachon -- rejected Thaksin's proposal made Sunday night to invite the opposition to join a national coalition government with his Thai Rak Thai Party after the election. Democrat Party chief Abhisit Vejjajiva reaffirmed the unified stance of the opposition parties on political reform and amendment of the 1997 Constitution. Abhisit also urged Thaksin to reconsider his set of proposals before the start of April 2 election. Last Friday, Abhisit proposed Thaksin resign and give way for King Bhumibol Adulyadej to appoint a neutral interim government to carry out the political reform through charter amendment before calling for a new general election. Earlier Monday, Democrat Party Secretary General Suthep Thuagsuban said Thaksin's proposal was "just to lure the public" to go to the April 2 polls. He said Thaksin should step down and open the way for King Bhumibol Adulyadej to appoint a national government to carry out political reforms through constitutional amendment. Chat Thai deputy leader Somsak Prisananantakul told another radio news program it was a "mere attempt" by Thaksin to get people to vote. "We are not fighting for the seats in government. We fight for a better political reform. Khun Thaksin only attempted to distract the point," Somsak said. Thaksin has faced growing criticism for abusing power and corruption since his family decided late in January to sell a 49.6 percent stake in telecom giant Shin Corp., which he founded, to the Singapore government's investment arm Temasek Holdings. Thousands of people have rallied almost everyday in Bangkok against the premier. |