Red Shirts ultimatum to government: return satellite TV signal

BANGKOK, April 8 (TNA) - Thailand's anti-government Red Shirt protesters gave an ultimatum to the government to return 'the signal' representing its power to communicate to supporters via its People Channel (PTV), otherwise they will retaliate to the last.

Red Shirt leader Nuttawut Saikua said the government must return the signal of the PTV within Thursday.

Protesters rallying at the Ratchaprasong intersection show their dissatisfaction when they learned that PTV was shut down on Thursday.

The PTV satellite channel is the primary communications channel between the Red Shirt leaders in Bangkok and its members and the public in other provinces, and is used as a communication tool to mobilise Red Shirt supporters nationwide when their leaders plan a mass rally.

Another top leader, Jatuporn Prompan, said on the stage at Ratchaprasong intersection that the shutdown of PTV is the end of the government as the action is closing ears and eyes of the people, so they cannot stay at home but more people will take to the street.

“It is unacceptable. The Red Shirts see that it's not necessary to negotiate any more, or to have any conditions on the timeframe for House dissolution. There's no more compromise,” he said, adding that he believed the government will do everything it can to block the Red Shirt mass protest on Friday.

Minister to the Prime Minister's Office Satit Wonghnongtaey, however, defended the government's action, saying the station had been taken off the air for inciting unrest.

Meanwhile, Mr Nuttawut said ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was not ill as reported and that he wanted to speak to his supporters at the rally site via video link, but he did not do it because he wanted to people to carry out their task in fighting for democracy.

Mr Nuttawut also denied that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) barred Mr Thaksin from entering the country. (TNA)