In a statement made on May 21, the chair of the association, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem said, “ASEAN countries support the early restoration of law and order, national conciliation and the return to normalcy in Thailand in accordance with those aforementioned principles and in line with the interests of the Thai people and the vision of an ASEAN Community.

“Peace, stability and development in Thailand are crucial to the advancement of the goal of an ASEAN Community by 2015”, said Mr Khiem.

ASEAN member states believe that the Thai people, through their own strength, will overcome their current difficulties, Mr Khiem said, adding that, based on principles in the ASEAN Charter, ASEAN stands ready to provide Thailand with any possible support.

The same day, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajive announced that order has been restored in Bangkok and other provinces after a security forces’ campaign to dismiss demonstrations launched by the “Red Shirt” movement.

Speaking on Thai television, the Prime Minister declared victory in the campaign to restore order in Bangkok but admitted that the kingdom faces "huge challenges", particularly the divisions that have occurred in this country.

He affirmed that his government would spare no effort to swiftly restore normalcy while pursuing reconciliation with the “Red Shirts” who are still demanding him to resign and hold an early general election.

Korbsak Sabhavasu, Abhisit’s Secretary General, added that it would take four months for the government to reach the targets in the reconciliation plan, and then a general election will be held at a time decided by the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, the Thai government’s acting spokesperson, Panitan Wattanayagorn, said the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) would establish a centre to support businesses affected by the recent political unrest and a task force to ensure security in Bangkok.

According to the “Nation”, infrastructure damage in the country alone are estimated at 40 billion THB (around US$1.2 billion). Reportedly, 85 people have died and 1,900 others have been injured since the Red Shirts launched the demonstrations in mid-March.