Abhisit meets protest leaders but no agreement reached
Source: Agencies |
March 29, 2010, Monday
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THAI Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and leaders of anti-government protests failed to reach an agreement yesterday in nationally televised talks on how to solve the country's political crisis and said they would try again today.
The talks marked a civilized pause after weeks of demonstrations and fiery rhetoric that prompted Abhisit to seek refuge at an army base.
The two sides sat across a conference table from each other and shook hands. With strained smiles, they reiterated their sharply different stances and adjourned three hours later no closer to a resolution. They agreed to meet again this evening.
"Our request is simple and direct: Dissolve Parliament for the people to decide again," said Veera Muksikapong, a protest leader. He was joined by two other leaders, all dressed in their signature red shirts.
A tense-looking Abhisit - accompanied by two advisers, all wearing blue dress shirts - reiterated his position that dissolving Parliament immediately would not solve Thailand's deep political crisis.
"I have to make a decision based on a consensus from the entire country, including the Red Shirts," Abhisit said. "We have to think: Will dissolution really solve the problem?"
"The wound in this country cannot be healed by dissolving Parliament."
One of the Red Shirt leaders told Abhisit during yesterday's talks he lacked credibility and it was time to step down. "Wherever you go, people protest against you. You should not stay," Jatuporn Prompan said. "Return the power to the people and let them make a decision."
Abhisit has repeatedly rejected the protesters' demands that he dissolve Parliament and call new elections.
Thousands of protesters gathered in the historic heart of Bangkok awaiting direction from their leaders on how to respond if the talks failed. During more than two weeks of protests, the number of participants has peaked at more than 100,000.
The protest movement consists largely of supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a 2006 military coup for alleged corruption, and pro-democracy activists who opposed the army takeover.
In recent days, the protests have turned increasingly confrontational and raised fears of violence. Abhisit has been sleeping and working from an army base since the protests started March 12.
The protesters issued an ultimatum on Sunday threatening to scale the walls of the base unless he agreed to meet them face-to-face.
Abhisit went on national television earlier in the day saying he would not bow to ultimatums. Two hours later, however, he agreed to the talks.
The two sides met at an academic institute on the outskirts of Bangkok. Security officers searched the venue for bombs before Abhisit entered.
The talks marked a civilized pause after weeks of demonstrations and fiery rhetoric that prompted Abhisit to seek refuge at an army base.
The two sides sat across a conference table from each other and shook hands. With strained smiles, they reiterated their sharply different stances and adjourned three hours later no closer to a resolution. They agreed to meet again this evening.
"Our request is simple and direct: Dissolve Parliament for the people to decide again," said Veera Muksikapong, a protest leader. He was joined by two other leaders, all dressed in their signature red shirts.
A tense-looking Abhisit - accompanied by two advisers, all wearing blue dress shirts - reiterated his position that dissolving Parliament immediately would not solve Thailand's deep political crisis.
"I have to make a decision based on a consensus from the entire country, including the Red Shirts," Abhisit said. "We have to think: Will dissolution really solve the problem?"
"The wound in this country cannot be healed by dissolving Parliament."
One of the Red Shirt leaders told Abhisit during yesterday's talks he lacked credibility and it was time to step down. "Wherever you go, people protest against you. You should not stay," Jatuporn Prompan said. "Return the power to the people and let them make a decision."
Abhisit has repeatedly rejected the protesters' demands that he dissolve Parliament and call new elections.
Thousands of protesters gathered in the historic heart of Bangkok awaiting direction from their leaders on how to respond if the talks failed. During more than two weeks of protests, the number of participants has peaked at more than 100,000.
The protest movement consists largely of supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a 2006 military coup for alleged corruption, and pro-democracy activists who opposed the army takeover.
In recent days, the protests have turned increasingly confrontational and raised fears of violence. Abhisit has been sleeping and working from an army base since the protests started March 12.
The protesters issued an ultimatum on Sunday threatening to scale the walls of the base unless he agreed to meet them face-to-face.
Abhisit went on national television earlier in the day saying he would not bow to ultimatums. Two hours later, however, he agreed to the talks.
The two sides met at an academic institute on the outskirts of Bangkok. Security officers searched the venue for bombs before Abhisit entered.
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