ID :
96023
Sun, 12/20/2009 - 19:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/96023
The shortlink copeid
Deputy PM: No talks with Thaksin if conditions set
BANGKOK, Dec 20 (TNA) - Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Sunday reasserted that the government will not open talks with fugitive ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra to end years of political conflict causing divisiveness in Thai society, as long as the ex-premier sets conditions, including that no legal action be taken against him.
Mr Suthep commented after former premier Gen Surayud Chulanont said during a radio interview on Saturday that he is willing to mediate a negotiation with Mr Thaksin in a bid to end the nation's conflict.
Mr Suthep said on Sunday that negotiation is an option to solve the problem, but how to negotiate is important.
"If I have to open talks while Mr Thaksin sets conditions that he must not be prosecuted or sentenced to jail and that all of his frozen money must be returned to him," Mr Suthep vowed,"I will not negotiate with him, but other people can try if there's an acceptable condition."
Mr Suthep added that as he has evaluated the recent moves of Mr Thaksin, he believes that the convicted ex-premier is now finding way for negotiation.
Meanwhile, Noppadon Pattama, legal adviser to Mr Thaksin, said that he telephoned the ex-premier on the matter and was informed that Mr Thaksin is willing to talk with concerned authorities.
"Both sides must be sincere in the talks," said Mr Noppadon."If the talks will make the country move on, Mr Thaksin is willing to negotiate although legal action is taken against him and his family has been in an agony due to the freezing of family money which they earned both before and after Mr Thaksin took the premiership."
Mr Noppadon added that Gen Surayud can contact him or Mr Thaksin if he will hold the talks, but the principle of the talks is that everything should be returned to what it was before the 19 September 2006 coup d'etat and bring back the fair Constitution.
When asked whether this means that all legal action against Mr Thaksin must be dropped, Mr Noppadon said that conditions have not yet been set at the moment, but noted that the current Constitution is from the Council of National Security (CNS).
Mr Noppadon added, however, that three issues which must be raised in the negotiations include bringing back the 1997 Constitution or a similar one, and dissolving the House of Representatives to call a general election.
The last one, Mr Noppadon said, all parties, factions and "colours" must agree that they will accept the election result and will not stage street politics to topple the elected government.
Mr Noppadon, however, admitted that he cannot speak on the behalf of the Red Shirt activists, but he believes that the only way which can resolve the conflict is that everything should go back to what it was before the coup. (TNA)
Mr Suthep commented after former premier Gen Surayud Chulanont said during a radio interview on Saturday that he is willing to mediate a negotiation with Mr Thaksin in a bid to end the nation's conflict.
Mr Suthep said on Sunday that negotiation is an option to solve the problem, but how to negotiate is important.
"If I have to open talks while Mr Thaksin sets conditions that he must not be prosecuted or sentenced to jail and that all of his frozen money must be returned to him," Mr Suthep vowed,"I will not negotiate with him, but other people can try if there's an acceptable condition."
Mr Suthep added that as he has evaluated the recent moves of Mr Thaksin, he believes that the convicted ex-premier is now finding way for negotiation.
Meanwhile, Noppadon Pattama, legal adviser to Mr Thaksin, said that he telephoned the ex-premier on the matter and was informed that Mr Thaksin is willing to talk with concerned authorities.
"Both sides must be sincere in the talks," said Mr Noppadon."If the talks will make the country move on, Mr Thaksin is willing to negotiate although legal action is taken against him and his family has been in an agony due to the freezing of family money which they earned both before and after Mr Thaksin took the premiership."
Mr Noppadon added that Gen Surayud can contact him or Mr Thaksin if he will hold the talks, but the principle of the talks is that everything should be returned to what it was before the 19 September 2006 coup d'etat and bring back the fair Constitution.
When asked whether this means that all legal action against Mr Thaksin must be dropped, Mr Noppadon said that conditions have not yet been set at the moment, but noted that the current Constitution is from the Council of National Security (CNS).
Mr Noppadon added, however, that three issues which must be raised in the negotiations include bringing back the 1997 Constitution or a similar one, and dissolving the House of Representatives to call a general election.
The last one, Mr Noppadon said, all parties, factions and "colours" must agree that they will accept the election result and will not stage street politics to topple the elected government.
Mr Noppadon, however, admitted that he cannot speak on the behalf of the Red Shirt activists, but he believes that the only way which can resolve the conflict is that everything should go back to what it was before the coup. (TNA)
