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113891
Sun, 03/28/2010 - 21:04
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http://m.oananews.org//node/113891
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Thai PM, Red Shirt protest leaders end talks without resolution
BANGKOK, March 28 (TNA) - Negotiations between Thailand's polarised
political groupings ended inconclusively Sunday evening, but the parties agreed to resume negotiations Monday at 6pm.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the core leaders of the anti-government 'Red Shirt' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) movement ended their landmark negotiations Sunday
evening without any concrete solution to the country's current political crisis with both sides refusing to back down on their positions.
Beginning about 4.30pm, the negotiation was an an attempt by both sides to ease rising tensions after the two-week protest turned into an increasingly tense confrontation between security forces and the
red-clad protesters.
The demonstrators, many of whom are supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, are demanding that Mr Abhisit dissolve Parliament and call a fresh general election.
In a three-hour face-to-face talks broadcast live on national television, the prime minister, flanked by his secretary-general, Korbsak Sabhavasu. and ruling Democrat Party deputy secretary-general Chamni Sakdiseth, while the UDD leaders in their signature bright red clothing comprised Veera Musikapong,Jatuporn Prompan, an opposition Puea Thai Party MP and Dr Weng Tojirakarn.
The talks, held at Bangkok's King Prajadhipok's Institute, followed the prime minister's acceptance of the UDD proposal to talk.
The Red Shirt leaders stood firm on their demand that the government must dissolve parliament and hold a fresh election as the only solution to the current political problem.
"We have our statement with the simple request that is to dissolve the
Parliament and return power for the people to decide," said Mr Veera.
However, Mr Abhisit repeated his stance that a House dissolution was not the way out for the deeply-rooted and polarised political crisis.
"I did not rule out the house dissolution since the first day that I took office," Mr Abhisit said, "but we must discuss whether or not dissolving the House will be the answer [to the political crisis]."
"We must listen to opinions of other people in [our] society so that we can discern the real answer [to the problem],"the prime minister said, "not the one which although many people agree,but a lot of people disagree."
Both sides agree to meet again on Monday at 6pm.
The Red Shirt demonstators have camped in the historic inner area of
historic Bangkok since March 13. The numbers in the crowd rose to some 100,000 in the early days of the protest, but those numbers have not been sustained.
The protesters intensified their anti-government campaign to try to
achieve their aim with dramatic stunts such as a blood-pouring strategy at Government House, the Democrat Party Headquarters and the prime minister's home. They also rode in a caravan of red vehicles and marchers across the capital last weekend to urge Bangkokians to join their cause.
The Red Shirts on Saturday moved from their main rally ground to eight
points where military units were standing by, including at several Buddhist temples. They then convinced the military to withdraw
from the areas and return to their barracks.
The government imposed the Internal Security Law on March 11 and extended it until March 30 to allow the military to be the main force to ensure law and order. However, a string of grenade and bomb attacks continue to happen almost daily, but the red shirts denied any involvement in the incidents. (TNA)
political groupings ended inconclusively Sunday evening, but the parties agreed to resume negotiations Monday at 6pm.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the core leaders of the anti-government 'Red Shirt' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) movement ended their landmark negotiations Sunday
evening without any concrete solution to the country's current political crisis with both sides refusing to back down on their positions.
Beginning about 4.30pm, the negotiation was an an attempt by both sides to ease rising tensions after the two-week protest turned into an increasingly tense confrontation between security forces and the
red-clad protesters.
The demonstrators, many of whom are supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, are demanding that Mr Abhisit dissolve Parliament and call a fresh general election.
In a three-hour face-to-face talks broadcast live on national television, the prime minister, flanked by his secretary-general, Korbsak Sabhavasu. and ruling Democrat Party deputy secretary-general Chamni Sakdiseth, while the UDD leaders in their signature bright red clothing comprised Veera Musikapong,Jatuporn Prompan, an opposition Puea Thai Party MP and Dr Weng Tojirakarn.
The talks, held at Bangkok's King Prajadhipok's Institute, followed the prime minister's acceptance of the UDD proposal to talk.
The Red Shirt leaders stood firm on their demand that the government must dissolve parliament and hold a fresh election as the only solution to the current political problem.
"We have our statement with the simple request that is to dissolve the
Parliament and return power for the people to decide," said Mr Veera.
However, Mr Abhisit repeated his stance that a House dissolution was not the way out for the deeply-rooted and polarised political crisis.
"I did not rule out the house dissolution since the first day that I took office," Mr Abhisit said, "but we must discuss whether or not dissolving the House will be the answer [to the political crisis]."
"We must listen to opinions of other people in [our] society so that we can discern the real answer [to the problem],"the prime minister said, "not the one which although many people agree,but a lot of people disagree."
Both sides agree to meet again on Monday at 6pm.
The Red Shirt demonstators have camped in the historic inner area of
historic Bangkok since March 13. The numbers in the crowd rose to some 100,000 in the early days of the protest, but those numbers have not been sustained.
The protesters intensified their anti-government campaign to try to
achieve their aim with dramatic stunts such as a blood-pouring strategy at Government House, the Democrat Party Headquarters and the prime minister's home. They also rode in a caravan of red vehicles and marchers across the capital last weekend to urge Bangkokians to join their cause.
The Red Shirts on Saturday moved from their main rally ground to eight
points where military units were standing by, including at several Buddhist temples. They then convinced the military to withdraw
from the areas and return to their barracks.
The government imposed the Internal Security Law on March 11 and extended it until March 30 to allow the military to be the main force to ensure law and order. However, a string of grenade and bomb attacks continue to happen almost daily, but the red shirts denied any involvement in the incidents. (TNA)
