Thai PM urges end to reliance on king

Speaking to the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand, Abhisit said the country had "struggled at times of crisis to solve problems", in which 82-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej's role had been "critical, crucial, vital".

He noted in particular events of 1992, when the King publicly admonished the then-PM and a protest leader to end bloody clashes in Bangkok. The monarch has also made more recent calls for unity to prevent the country's collapse.

"Now what I'm saying is that it would be better if we can all resolve these issues without having to rely on His Majesty's interventions, even though they are always within the framework of the constitution. It will take time," Abhisit said late Thursday.

(...) Rights activists have criticised a sharp rise in the number of accusations of insulting the monarchy, punishable by up to 15 years in jail under a tough lese majeste law designed to protect the royal family.

But Abhisit said a new advisory board on the law would "create clarity".

"I hope in not too long, perhaps a few months' time, there will be clear guidance and a lot of cases that are sitting with the police and attorney general will be cleared," he said.