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130983
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 12:18
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http://m.oananews.org//node/130983
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Thailand welcomes US House resolution on reconciliation road map
BANGKOK, July 2 - Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Friday welcomed the United States House of Representatives' resolution backing the Thai government's national reconciliation road map to peacefully solve the country's years-long political crisis.
The US Congress on Thursday voted 411-4 to call on all parties in Thailand to "work assiduously to settle their differences" under a five-point national reconciliation road map of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The Thai prime minister proposed his reconciliation road map in a wake of the violent anti-government protests which ended after military operation to seal off the Red Shirt rally site in Bangkok's prime retail area of Ratchaprasong on May 19.
Ninety people were killed and nearly 1,900 were wounded in clashes between troops and Red Shirt protesters during the two-month-long intensified campaign demanding that Mr Abhisit dissolve the Thai House of Representatives.
Mr Suthep said he believed foreign countries appreciate the creation of an atmosphere leading to reconciliation, while conceding that some Thais do not want the road map to be achieved but the government will move on with the plan.
He reasserted that the premier's national reconciliation plan is not an attempt to hold on to power, but to drive the country forward in accordance with democratic rule.
Regarding a letter of the fugitive ex-premier's American lawyer Robert Amsterdam urging the Thai government to allow him to join the Thai judicial process on Red Shirt protest cases to ensure fairness to his client, Mr Suthep said he has not seen it, but the government believes it is not necessary to report everything to Mr Thaksin's lawyer.
Mr Amsterdam earlier claimed that he sent letters to senior Thai government officials, including Mr Suthep, asking the government to form an independent agency to investigate the army's operation against the anti-government protesters and allow Mr Thaksin's representatives to take part in the judicial process as well as reviewing the evidence of his client's cases.
Mr Suthep pointed out that Mr Amsterdam is simply an employee of the deposed premier and has no right to order the Thai government to do thing for his favour.
The deputy premier said Mr Amsterdam is working for Mr Thaksin, but the Thai government must work for the whole nation in a transparent manner. He said the government is unworried about the lawyer's recent moves as Mr Amsterdam earn his keep for the substantial payment that the ex-premier pays him. (MCOT online news)
The US Congress on Thursday voted 411-4 to call on all parties in Thailand to "work assiduously to settle their differences" under a five-point national reconciliation road map of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The Thai prime minister proposed his reconciliation road map in a wake of the violent anti-government protests which ended after military operation to seal off the Red Shirt rally site in Bangkok's prime retail area of Ratchaprasong on May 19.
Ninety people were killed and nearly 1,900 were wounded in clashes between troops and Red Shirt protesters during the two-month-long intensified campaign demanding that Mr Abhisit dissolve the Thai House of Representatives.
Mr Suthep said he believed foreign countries appreciate the creation of an atmosphere leading to reconciliation, while conceding that some Thais do not want the road map to be achieved but the government will move on with the plan.
He reasserted that the premier's national reconciliation plan is not an attempt to hold on to power, but to drive the country forward in accordance with democratic rule.
Regarding a letter of the fugitive ex-premier's American lawyer Robert Amsterdam urging the Thai government to allow him to join the Thai judicial process on Red Shirt protest cases to ensure fairness to his client, Mr Suthep said he has not seen it, but the government believes it is not necessary to report everything to Mr Thaksin's lawyer.
Mr Amsterdam earlier claimed that he sent letters to senior Thai government officials, including Mr Suthep, asking the government to form an independent agency to investigate the army's operation against the anti-government protesters and allow Mr Thaksin's representatives to take part in the judicial process as well as reviewing the evidence of his client's cases.
Mr Suthep pointed out that Mr Amsterdam is simply an employee of the deposed premier and has no right to order the Thai government to do thing for his favour.
The deputy premier said Mr Amsterdam is working for Mr Thaksin, but the Thai government must work for the whole nation in a transparent manner. He said the government is unworried about the lawyer's recent moves as Mr Amsterdam earn his keep for the substantial payment that the ex-premier pays him. (MCOT online news)
