At around 8pm last night, the Television Pool of Thailand broadcast a video clip showing HM the King telling then-premier Suchinda Kraprayoon and protest leader Chamlong Srimuang to turn to each other and resolve a political crisis following a bloody uprising in May 1992.

After the audience with HM the King, Suchinda resigned.

"The signal is clear. When such social division has taken place, the premier must resign. The current situation is very much similar to Black May. But this time we are not fighting against military dictatorship, but against a [single] politician," Sondhi said yesterday on stage during a rally in Sanam Luang.

Sondhi said Channel 5, which is under the supervision of the Royal Thai Army, had acted as a transmitter during the broadcast for five other stations. Sondhi said Thaksin had not nominated General Sonthi Boonyarataklin as Army commander-in-chief, but rather Sonthi had won royal endorsement for his post.

Chamlong, who is also a leader of the PAD, said he and his fellow protesters would leave Sanam Luang and return to their normal lives once Thaksin had resigned.

Suchinda said last night the current political stalemate had come to a dead-end and the best way out was to form an arbitration committee to mediate between the two sides. He suggested the most appropriate mediator was Privy Councillor Santi Thakral, a former Supreme Court president.

A large number of people have been protesting in Sanam Luang, demanding that Thaksin step down. They have threatened to stage a mass rally at the Government House tomorrow.

Lt-General Palangkul Klaharn, who heads the Supreme Command Office's directorate of joint civil affairs, said the broadcast had served to remind everyone the country had suffered a crisis before.

"If you listen to HM the King, you should make it better for the country. Everyone wishes for unity," Palangkoon said.

A key member of the Thai Rak Thai Party yesterday described the TV Pool move as "good." He said it was a move for peace and unity. "This should remind all parties to exercise caution and stop setting conditions," he said.

Government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee declined to interpret the Television Pool of Thailand's decision to broadcast the important clip at this juncture. "So far, this clearly tells all parties that they should turn to one another and avoid any conflict. Turning to one another will open a way for the best solution," he said.

Surapong said it did not matter which of the two sides should initiate compromise because the main point was to end the ongoing conflict.

"Recently, the government has agreed to join a debate for which the University Presidents Council of Thailand (UPCT) has offered to act as a mediator," Surapong said.

UPCT president Pratya Vesarach, president of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, said he had been impressed by the Television Pool of Thailand's move.

Pratya said UPCT would continue to do its best in a bid to bring the government, PAD and the three major parties that boycott the upcoming general election together for talks.