UDD unveils 'red map'

The anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) has come up with its own version of the reconciliation plan known as the 'red map' to respond to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's five-point road map to end the political stand-off.

The UDD leaders met late Monday afternoon to discuss Mr Abhisit's reconciliation plan and his demand for an end to the prolonged anti-government rally in Bangkok's Ratchaprasong business district.

The meeting ended about 5pm. The UDD leaders announced they were "happy" with the result and their own "red map" reconciliation plan.

They said the their "red map" will be proposed to the government for consideration. No details were given during the initial anouncement.

Prime Minister's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey said earlier the government will take legal action if the UDD leaders remain undecided when to end their protest rally,

Mr Sathit said if the UDD came up with a clear response today it would be raised for consideration at tomorrow's cabinet meeting, which would be held at Government House not the 11th Infantry Regiment headquarters.

By 6pm, there was no indication of an agreement

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, in his Sunday television programme "Confidence in Thailand with PM Abhisit" issued an ultimatum to UDD leaders, to come up with a decision on Monday when to end the rally or face government action.

He said the government could not afford to wait any longer because the prolonged rally would only cause more damage.

However, one of the UDD leaders Jatuporn Prompan vowed on Monday to fight on until justice is served for those who were killed and injured in clashes between troops and protesters last month.

"I don't care about who wants it [rally] to end, but I won't," he said before a meeting with other protest leaders to discuss their position after Prime minister Abhisit pressed them for an exact date on which they will lift their rallies.

"If authorities still are not pursuing these cases. For me, I would prefer death," Mr Jatuporn said.

Red-shirt leaders do not want amnesty for themselves, but they want a single standard applied to all, he said.

Mr Jatuporn said he also would like to ask society if they want to see cases relating to the UDD be treated as special cases, while cases against the government or anti-UDD groups are put on hold.

He then slammed Mr Abhisit's reconciliation road map, saying that it was no more than a tool to manipulate society to put pressure on the UDD to end the rally.

UDD core member Kwanchai Praipana said the group could not reach a decision when to end the rally because secret negotiations with government representatives had run into stumbling blocks.

The leader of the red shirts of Udon Thani said the UDD had in fact finished its own road map for reconciliation to be proposed to the government.

However, UDD leaders, in a tense meeting on Sunday night, could not agree when to end the rally at Ratchapasong intersection because during their secret talks with government representatives the government did not agree to the release of all 24 UDD leaders on bail after being charged with illegal assembly in violation of the emergency decree.

"The government did not want four of us to be granted bail. The four are myself, Suporn Atthawong, Arisman Pongruangrong and Pol Lt-Col Waipot Apornrat.

"This is not fair. We should get the same treatment," Mr Kwanchai told supporters from the Ratchaprasong protest stage.

Mr Kwanchai also said the government representatives also turned down the UDD's call for legal action against Prime Minister Abhisit and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, in his capacity as director of the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situations (CRES), for ordering the crackdown on April 10.

"Mr Abhisit does not want to enter the justice process. This is not acceptable to most of the UDD core members," Mr Kwanchai said.

The Udon red-shirt leader said Mr Abhisit lacked sincerity in proposing the roadmap, which was far from being concrete. UDD leaders would have to think carefully because the government had not said clearly when it would dissolve the House of Representatives.

"We need to ask the people whether our proposal to be submitted to the government is acceptable to them. Also, we don't know yet if it would be acceptable to the government," he said.

Mr Kwanchai said Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep had not only denied responsibility for the deaths and injuries to the protesters but also accused UDD leaders of being terrorists.

From : Bangkok Post