ID :
20407
Sun, 09/21/2008 - 11:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/20407
The shortlink copeid
Negotiations between PAD, government to start after cabinet forms
BANGKOK, Sept 20 (TNA) -- Negotiations between the anti-government
People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters and the Thai government
aimed at resolving the political crisis in the country are expected to
start after the formation of the cabinet, according to retired Maj-Gen.
Chamlong Srimuang, a PAD core leader.
Maj. Gen. Chamlong told journalists at a daily press briefing that the
date and major issues to be raised during the proposed meeting have not
yet been fixed as newly-appointed Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat is very
busy forming his cabinet.
The PAD protesters have decided to let Mr. Somchai form his cabinet first,
but its PAD position remains unchanged: the 2007 Constitution, written by
coupmaker-appointed legal and constitutional experts, must remain
unchanged and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) must go, Gen. Chamlong
said.
Still occupying the prime minister's offices at Government House, the PAD
has accused the PPP as being a proxy of the ousted, fugitive prime
minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who avoided returning to Thailand to face
legal proceedings, jumped bail and went to stay in Britain.
The planned negotiations between the PAD protesters and the new government
being formed came after Mr. Somchai telephoned another PAD core leader,
Sondhi Limthongkul, immediately upon being voted in as prime minister by
elected members of the House of Representatives earlier this week.
Meanwhile, the PAD will proceed with its plan to hold discussions to
promote its proposed 'New Politics' on Sunday in which invited academics
and representatives of varied professions will participate.
The discussions will be held at Government House and ideas gained from the
dialogue will be brought to a meeting of PAD core leaders to be held
Monday.
Under its so-called 'New Politics' system, the PAD is calling for 70 per
cent of House seats to be filled by appointees, with the remainder
elected.
Critics of the proposal suggest that having a Parliament with only 30 per
cent of its seats filled by election is
not moving toward democracy, but away from participatory govenment.
People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters and the Thai government
aimed at resolving the political crisis in the country are expected to
start after the formation of the cabinet, according to retired Maj-Gen.
Chamlong Srimuang, a PAD core leader.
Maj. Gen. Chamlong told journalists at a daily press briefing that the
date and major issues to be raised during the proposed meeting have not
yet been fixed as newly-appointed Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat is very
busy forming his cabinet.
The PAD protesters have decided to let Mr. Somchai form his cabinet first,
but its PAD position remains unchanged: the 2007 Constitution, written by
coupmaker-appointed legal and constitutional experts, must remain
unchanged and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) must go, Gen. Chamlong
said.
Still occupying the prime minister's offices at Government House, the PAD
has accused the PPP as being a proxy of the ousted, fugitive prime
minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who avoided returning to Thailand to face
legal proceedings, jumped bail and went to stay in Britain.
The planned negotiations between the PAD protesters and the new government
being formed came after Mr. Somchai telephoned another PAD core leader,
Sondhi Limthongkul, immediately upon being voted in as prime minister by
elected members of the House of Representatives earlier this week.
Meanwhile, the PAD will proceed with its plan to hold discussions to
promote its proposed 'New Politics' on Sunday in which invited academics
and representatives of varied professions will participate.
The discussions will be held at Government House and ideas gained from the
dialogue will be brought to a meeting of PAD core leaders to be held
Monday.
Under its so-called 'New Politics' system, the PAD is calling for 70 per
cent of House seats to be filled by appointees, with the remainder
elected.
Critics of the proposal suggest that having a Parliament with only 30 per
cent of its seats filled by election is
not moving toward democracy, but away from participatory govenment.
