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114556
Thu, 04/01/2010 - 18:12
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http://m.oananews.org//node/114556
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PM not ruling out third round of talks with Red Shirt protest leaders
BANGKOK, April 1 (TNA) - Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Thursday said his government has not ruled out a third round of talks with the anti-government 'Red-Shirt' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), but the talks must be based on national interest without setting a deadline for House dissolution.
"If the UDD leaders want to talk, they can contact us. The group should not set House dissolution deadline. Demanding to dissolve the Parliament within days or months is useless," Mr Abhisit stated.
He insisted the UDD leaders must stop their plan to dispatch groups of their red-shirted supporters to protest in various locations or stage protests beyond what had been agreed during previous talks with the government.
As for the planned mass rally on Saturday, Mr Abhisit said Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban would handle with the situation and would evaluate whether it could lead to violence or not.
The prime minister spoke to journalists at Parliament before returning to work at his Government House office for the first time in two weeks since the anti-government red-shirted mass rally began March 13.
Premier's Secretary-General, Korbsak Sabhavasu, who is one of the negotiators, said earlier there would be no talks if the Red Shirt planned mass rallies at many places.
He added that the premier could not dissolve Parliament within 15 days as demanded by the Red Shirt, saying it was impossible. It could not guarantee that peace would return to the country.
Meanwhile, a group of 40 senators led by Prasan Maruekaphithak and Rossana Tositrakul have together opposed the planned mass rally of the Red Shirt on Saturday, saying the demonstration was unlikely to run peacefully.
Mr Prasan said he had received information that there were groups who wanted to incite violence similar to the Black May 1992.
Up to 200,000 people demonstrated in central Bangkok to protest against the then government of Gen Suchinda Kraprayoon and the bloody military crackdown which then followed which resulted in 52 officially confirmed deaths.
Mr Prasan said would-be demonstrators should rethink their presence before joining the protest, at which a House dissolution is not its only aim, but also to instigate a riot to help fugitive ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
Ms Rossana urged the public to put up national flag stickers at their vehicles to show they want the country to return to normal.
She advised the government to set up a committee to listen to public opinion, not only go straight to House dissolution to solve the political deadlock.
The Red Shirt leaders announced Wednesday that the group will intensify its mass rally on April 3 if the government does not accept the group's proposal to dissolve the Parliament within 15 days. (TNA)
"If the UDD leaders want to talk, they can contact us. The group should not set House dissolution deadline. Demanding to dissolve the Parliament within days or months is useless," Mr Abhisit stated.
He insisted the UDD leaders must stop their plan to dispatch groups of their red-shirted supporters to protest in various locations or stage protests beyond what had been agreed during previous talks with the government.
As for the planned mass rally on Saturday, Mr Abhisit said Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban would handle with the situation and would evaluate whether it could lead to violence or not.
The prime minister spoke to journalists at Parliament before returning to work at his Government House office for the first time in two weeks since the anti-government red-shirted mass rally began March 13.
Premier's Secretary-General, Korbsak Sabhavasu, who is one of the negotiators, said earlier there would be no talks if the Red Shirt planned mass rallies at many places.
He added that the premier could not dissolve Parliament within 15 days as demanded by the Red Shirt, saying it was impossible. It could not guarantee that peace would return to the country.
Meanwhile, a group of 40 senators led by Prasan Maruekaphithak and Rossana Tositrakul have together opposed the planned mass rally of the Red Shirt on Saturday, saying the demonstration was unlikely to run peacefully.
Mr Prasan said he had received information that there were groups who wanted to incite violence similar to the Black May 1992.
Up to 200,000 people demonstrated in central Bangkok to protest against the then government of Gen Suchinda Kraprayoon and the bloody military crackdown which then followed which resulted in 52 officially confirmed deaths.
Mr Prasan said would-be demonstrators should rethink their presence before joining the protest, at which a House dissolution is not its only aim, but also to instigate a riot to help fugitive ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
Ms Rossana urged the public to put up national flag stickers at their vehicles to show they want the country to return to normal.
She advised the government to set up a committee to listen to public opinion, not only go straight to House dissolution to solve the political deadlock.
The Red Shirt leaders announced Wednesday that the group will intensify its mass rally on April 3 if the government does not accept the group's proposal to dissolve the Parliament within 15 days. (TNA)
