ID :
56466
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 21:21
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http://m.oananews.org//node/56466
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Thai PM says negotiations with Thaksin out of question
BANGKOK, April 20 (TNA) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday ruled out negotiations with convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to end Thailand’s ongoing political turmoil.
Speaking to journalists, Mr. Abhisit said his government is moving ahead to reconcile different factions among the people based on righteousness.
He said the industrial sector had urged him to start negotiating with Mr. Thaksin, now living in self-imposed exile in overseas, in a bid to end political unrest in Thailand, but he said that to wipe out criminal court cases is “impossible and shouldn’t be done.”
“The government will only talk with people who comply with the law not the people who instigate violence," the prime minister stated.
Mr. Thaksin, who was ousted from power in a bloodless coup in September 2006, was last October sentenced in absentia to two years in jail for violating Thailand’s conflict of interest law when he helped his then wife buy an artificially cut-priced lot of government land in 2003.
The Criminal Court last Tuesday issued arrest warrant for him and 12 others who are his staunch supporters in the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) on charges of illegal assembly of more than 10 people, threatening acts of violence, disrupting traffic and inciting the public to break the law and causing unrest.
The warrants were issued one day after street violence in the capital which saw two civilians dead and 123 government security personnel and protesters injured.
Prior to the anti-government protest, Mr. Thaksin made almost nightly speeches via video link to red-shirted UDD demonstrators gathered at Government House telling them that it is now the “golden time” to rise up against the government.
Regarding plans to hold a joint parliamentary session to allow members to suggest solutions to end the political impasse in Thailand, Mr. Abhisit said members could propose amendments to the constitution or law enforcement in the country.
Political parties, including the opposition, must send their proposals for amending the Constitution within two weeks so that a joint solution could be made, said Mr. Abhisit. (TNA)
Speaking to journalists, Mr. Abhisit said his government is moving ahead to reconcile different factions among the people based on righteousness.
He said the industrial sector had urged him to start negotiating with Mr. Thaksin, now living in self-imposed exile in overseas, in a bid to end political unrest in Thailand, but he said that to wipe out criminal court cases is “impossible and shouldn’t be done.”
“The government will only talk with people who comply with the law not the people who instigate violence," the prime minister stated.
Mr. Thaksin, who was ousted from power in a bloodless coup in September 2006, was last October sentenced in absentia to two years in jail for violating Thailand’s conflict of interest law when he helped his then wife buy an artificially cut-priced lot of government land in 2003.
The Criminal Court last Tuesday issued arrest warrant for him and 12 others who are his staunch supporters in the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) on charges of illegal assembly of more than 10 people, threatening acts of violence, disrupting traffic and inciting the public to break the law and causing unrest.
The warrants were issued one day after street violence in the capital which saw two civilians dead and 123 government security personnel and protesters injured.
Prior to the anti-government protest, Mr. Thaksin made almost nightly speeches via video link to red-shirted UDD demonstrators gathered at Government House telling them that it is now the “golden time” to rise up against the government.
Regarding plans to hold a joint parliamentary session to allow members to suggest solutions to end the political impasse in Thailand, Mr. Abhisit said members could propose amendments to the constitution or law enforcement in the country.
Political parties, including the opposition, must send their proposals for amending the Constitution within two weeks so that a joint solution could be made, said Mr. Abhisit. (TNA)
