PM rejects deadline
By THE NATION ON SUNDAY
Published on April 25, 2010
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday rejected the red-shirt protesters' precondition for him to agree to dissolve the House of Representatives within 30 days, closing the door on a third round of stalled truce talks.
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www.siam-legal.com"The 30-day deadline is not an issue. House dissolution must be done for the benefit of the whole country, not just for the red shirts. And it must be done at the right time," he said.
"The ultimatum is just aimed at getting the attention of the foreign media. I don't think it's the answer to the problem," he said.
"Negotiations must be done to find a solution for most of the country, not just the red shirts, who are just part of society."
Nattawut Saikua, a red-shirt leader, said there was no point then in continuing discussions. "These negotiations will stop. We will not talk anymore," he said.
The prime minister appeared with Army chief General Anupong Paochinda during the recording of his Sunday morning television programme inside the 11th Infantry Regiment. Abhisit has been billeted at the military barracks since the red shirts began their protest last month.
He told reporters after the filming he had invited the Army chief, who is in charge of security-related operations for the Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation, to appear on the show to talk about what he was doing about the red-shirt protests.
Viewers would get a "clearer picture" when the "Confident in Thailand with PM Abhisit" programme is broadcast this morning, he said.
Political problems would be addressed in a political way while security problems would be addressed in a "security way".
"On the political issue, we have to ask the majority of society - not just the red shirts - how to solve it. We have to be responsible for the people of the entire country for the country's future and for democracy. On the security issue, we are doing well, particularly with law enforcement," he said.
Nattawut said earlier yesterday that red-shirt leaders had persuaded the protesters to extend their deadline for a dissolution of Parliament - from immediately to 15 days - in order to prevent any further loss of life among the demonstrators.
Veteran politician Chaturon Chaisaeng, who appears frequently at red-shirt rallies, called for a resumption of talks to avert any further losses by the feuding sides. He also urged the prime minister to disband the House within three months.
Chaturon said the supporters of both sides seemed to be getting conflicting information about incidents, which led to differences in their perception.
Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, rector of the National Institute of Development Administration, said the third round of talks would never take place without the red-shirt leaders first getting the green light from fugitive ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who he said has the final say in the red-shirt movement.
Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said Thaksin should call off the red-shirt protest for the sake of the country. "I urge ex-PM Thaksin to sympathise with his compatriots," he said.
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