ID :
118535
Sat, 04/24/2010 - 21:50
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/118535
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PM rejects Red Shirt proposal to dissolve House in 30 days
BANGKOK, April 24 (TNA) - Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Saturday rejected the anti-government 'Red Shirts' revised demand that he dissolve Parliament in 30 days, instead of immediately, saying that the government would not bow to intimidation and that a dissolution of the House was not the way out of Thailand's problems.
Mr Abhisit said the government was reviewing the options from various sectors and he believed that society wanted to see that any political decision such as the decision to dissolve the lower house of Parliament must be done for the interest of the entire country.
"Using force, intimidation, violence to get a political answer is not acceptable. Demanding or lodging an ultimatum to dissolve the House in 30 days is not the issue. I reject, I cannot acceptthe demand to dissolve Parliament within 30 days," he said.
The anti-government 'Red Shirt' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) announced Friday that it is ready to end its demonstration and hold a third round of talks with the government if the PM agrees to its three conditions -- dissolve Parliament in 30 days, appoint an independent panel to probe the April 10 and April 22 incidents and stop intimidating the protesters.
It said the latest proposal was aimed to “prevent the loss of more lives.”
The premier said he did not see that the format of the previous two rounds of talks between the government and UDD could reach solution but now there should be multilateral talks, participated by all stakeholders.
The UDD latest proposal was seen as an attempt to 'build image' for foreign countries as he had previously said many times that the demand to dissolve House in 15 days or 30 days could not be a final answer.
"Threatening to intensify their campaign, and step up violence if the government rejects their demand is not acceptable," he added.
Meanwhile, the Red Shirts braced for a crackdown to end their demonstration at Ratchaprasong intersection after the prime minister rejected the offer.
Red Shirt leader Veera Musikapong said he was sad that Mr Abhisit rejected the UDD demand after they have two rounds of negotiation. This meant that the prime minister opted to use force against the protesters.
Nattawut Saikua, a Red Shirt leader, said on the stage that the protesters who would come to join the rally in Bangkok and its supporters nationwide to take off their red shirts and become 'plainclothes warriors' to fight against the government.
He said the goverment was trying every means to stop Red Shirt supporters to join the rally, therefore the demonstrator should change their cloth to other colours, hide their clapping feet, and cover their campaign stickers bearing word 'Dissolve the House'.
The red shirts will be worn again when the group wins, he said.
Another UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan threatened the troops and police in the buildings around Ratchaprasong to leave their buildings, otherwise the Red Shirt would 'invite' them to leave.
He said that according to the information he received, Mr Abhisit has ordered a crackdown on protesters within 48 hours or not later than 5pm on Monday.
He said if the government began using force to disperse the protesters, its supporters nationwide would start their campaign against the government freely, using any measures they deem appropriate.
In a related development, the Multi-Coloured Group who support the prime minister and oppose the House dissolution, rallied Saturday evening at Chatuchak Park in Bangkok,
Tul Sittisomwong, a rally organiser, urged the government to reject the Red Shirt demand because it was a like intimidation.
He had the government seven days to find solution to end the political crisis. If the government does not find a way out of the deadlock by April 30, the group would rally to press the government.
However, the venue will be announced later as the group must evaluate the situation and seek the participants' joint decision.
The group is composed of middle-class Bangkok residents, academics, the business community and members of the social network Facebook.
Since Songkran they have gathered in various locations every evening to show their powerful support for the prime minister and against the dissolution of Parliament.
The group would hold prayers at the Emerald Buddha Temple Sunday morning and gather at the Victory Monument in the evening. (TNA)
Mr Abhisit said the government was reviewing the options from various sectors and he believed that society wanted to see that any political decision such as the decision to dissolve the lower house of Parliament must be done for the interest of the entire country.
"Using force, intimidation, violence to get a political answer is not acceptable. Demanding or lodging an ultimatum to dissolve the House in 30 days is not the issue. I reject, I cannot acceptthe demand to dissolve Parliament within 30 days," he said.
The anti-government 'Red Shirt' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) announced Friday that it is ready to end its demonstration and hold a third round of talks with the government if the PM agrees to its three conditions -- dissolve Parliament in 30 days, appoint an independent panel to probe the April 10 and April 22 incidents and stop intimidating the protesters.
It said the latest proposal was aimed to “prevent the loss of more lives.”
The premier said he did not see that the format of the previous two rounds of talks between the government and UDD could reach solution but now there should be multilateral talks, participated by all stakeholders.
The UDD latest proposal was seen as an attempt to 'build image' for foreign countries as he had previously said many times that the demand to dissolve House in 15 days or 30 days could not be a final answer.
"Threatening to intensify their campaign, and step up violence if the government rejects their demand is not acceptable," he added.
Meanwhile, the Red Shirts braced for a crackdown to end their demonstration at Ratchaprasong intersection after the prime minister rejected the offer.
Red Shirt leader Veera Musikapong said he was sad that Mr Abhisit rejected the UDD demand after they have two rounds of negotiation. This meant that the prime minister opted to use force against the protesters.
Nattawut Saikua, a Red Shirt leader, said on the stage that the protesters who would come to join the rally in Bangkok and its supporters nationwide to take off their red shirts and become 'plainclothes warriors' to fight against the government.
He said the goverment was trying every means to stop Red Shirt supporters to join the rally, therefore the demonstrator should change their cloth to other colours, hide their clapping feet, and cover their campaign stickers bearing word 'Dissolve the House'.
The red shirts will be worn again when the group wins, he said.
Another UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan threatened the troops and police in the buildings around Ratchaprasong to leave their buildings, otherwise the Red Shirt would 'invite' them to leave.
He said that according to the information he received, Mr Abhisit has ordered a crackdown on protesters within 48 hours or not later than 5pm on Monday.
He said if the government began using force to disperse the protesters, its supporters nationwide would start their campaign against the government freely, using any measures they deem appropriate.
In a related development, the Multi-Coloured Group who support the prime minister and oppose the House dissolution, rallied Saturday evening at Chatuchak Park in Bangkok,
Tul Sittisomwong, a rally organiser, urged the government to reject the Red Shirt demand because it was a like intimidation.
He had the government seven days to find solution to end the political crisis. If the government does not find a way out of the deadlock by April 30, the group would rally to press the government.
However, the venue will be announced later as the group must evaluate the situation and seek the participants' joint decision.
The group is composed of middle-class Bangkok residents, academics, the business community and members of the social network Facebook.
Since Songkran they have gathered in various locations every evening to show their powerful support for the prime minister and against the dissolution of Parliament.
The group would hold prayers at the Emerald Buddha Temple Sunday morning and gather at the Victory Monument in the evening. (TNA)
