Agree to PM's 'road map' but no rally dispersal yet
Red shirt leaders are demanding that the prime minister set an exact date for when he will dissolve parliament as part of his national reconciliation plan before they order an end to their rally.
United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship bosses Tuesday agreed to take part in the compromise plan announced by the prime minister on Monday, but they were wary in their responses. They were also dubious over the government's unity and sincerity in offering the road map.
See also: Coalition partners get behind road map
Mr Abhisit has offered to hold a general election on Nov 14 as part of the plan which comes with five conditions.
But UDD leaders questioned the poll date offer, saying only the Election Commission had the authority to set an election date, not the prime minister.
"We want the government to come up with a clear and definite resolution on when exactly the House will be dissolved," UDD leader Natthawut Saikua said.
He said the resolution must be announced officially and agreed to by all the government coalition partners.
"Once such an agreement is finalised, then we can start talking."
The UDD was uncertain about the coalition partners' stance on Mr Abhisit's plan, he said.
While waiting for talks on the road map, the red shirts would continue their demonstrations at Ratchaprasong intersection, he said.
The group said the protesters were suspicious of the premier's compromise plan because it went against the position held by the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation, the government's ad hoc task force, which has said it would use armoured vehicles to retake the protest area.
Another UDD leader, Veera Musikhapong, said the group wanted to see "sincerity" from the government in offering the road map, insisting the state must end every means of intimidation in use against UDD supporters.
The government must allow red shirt supporters to travel freely to join protests in Bangkok and elsewhere, Mr Natthawut said. Media freedom to report on protests must also be restored.
Agreeing with talks on the road map does not mean the group wanted to trade this with an amnesty for charges against them over an alleged plot to overthrow the monarchy and terrorism, the UDD leaders insisted.
The group's leaders said their defence against these charges would test the fairness of the justice system.
Charges must also be brought against their arch-rivals, the leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy, and those who ordered crackdowns in the April riots last year and again this year, they said.
UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan said he lacked confidence in Mr Abhisit's offer to establish a fact-finding panel to review the deadly incidents this year. A similar panel named to look into the riots last year failed to come up with any conclusions, he said.
A source with the UDD said the protest leaders were reluctant to embrace the road map, but they knew they would be criticised by the public and so agreed to offer a broad acceptance.
The red shirt protesters at Ratchaprasong intersection are to be reinforced by about 1,100 people from Udon Thani, Nong Khai and Nong Bua Lam Phu. The new recruits began travelling to Bangkok yesterday in cars, trucks, vans and buses.
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Puea Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh yesterday commended the prime minister for showing sound judgement in coming up with the road map.
Gen Chavalit believed the red shirt leaders would accept the proposal in principle, although the details might need further discussion.
Puea Thai deputy leader Plodprasop Suraswadi said the opposition party would need time to study the details of the reconciliation plan. It also needed to listen to the voices of the red shirt protesters who are calling for social justice.
Mr Abhisit said yesterday the government would go ahead with the road map regardless of whether the UDD accepted it. "If they do not join with us, we will go ahead to achieve the five objectives," Mr Abhisit said. "It will be left to the UDD to make a decision."
He said the political climate - without street protests for the next six months from now until the proposed Nov 14 poll date - would be conducive for a general election.
"I have made a decision in the best interests of the country. My decision will not run counter to the principle of the rule of law.
"No amnesties will be granted. Those who broke the law must be dealt with," the prime minister said, saying the reconciliation process would not include offers of amnesties for those wanted on arrest warrants for criminal offences.
Amnesties would be offered to the rank-and-file protesters who joined the red shirt rally during the period of emergency rule, he said.
A highly-placed source in the Democrat Party said the proposed reconciliation formed part of the prime minister's political measures to deal with the rally after security measures and law enforcement failed to yield results.
Mr Abhisit said he had reiterated his position on what was a suitable time for parliament to be dissolved.
From : Bangkok Post
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