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Thai protesters say further talks with PM pointless
Source: Agencies |
March 30, 2010, Tuesday
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THAI anti-government protesters said today they were not interested in further talks with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and would look at new ways to push for elections.
After two rounds of lengthy but fruitless talks with the embattled premier, "red shirt" leaders accused Abhisit of stalling and questioned whether he sincerely wanted to find a way out of the deadlock. "The aim of the 'red shirts' is house dissolution and when the government is just buying time, there's no use in us having more talks," one of the leaders, Jatuporn Prompan, told reporters. "We will meet later to discuss our next move in pushing for house dissolution."
Abhisit left for a two-day visit to Bahrain early today. He has suggested more talks to find a way out of the impasse and it is still possible that protest leaders accede to it.
The "red shirt" protesters question the way he became prime minister -- as head of a coalition they say was put together by the army -- and accuse him of clinging to power and putting off an election his party is not likely to win.
Abhisit's term will expire in December next year, when an election must be called.
The failure of the talks, which was widely anticipated, will add to concerns about the protracted political stalemate in Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy, which could hurt long-term investment.
However, foreigners have continued to pile money into Thailand's stock market, one of Asia's cheapest, to the tune of more than US$1.5 billion since Feb. 22. The stock index was up nearly 1 percent at 0500 GMT, in line with Asian bourses and led by energy shares as the oil price firmed..
BEST INTERESTS
In what appeared to be a swipe at ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the assumed leader and financier of the "red shirts", Abhisit said he decide in the interests of the country, not individuals.
"Our standpoint is clear. The country's benefit must come first," he told reporters. "We all want to find the solution for the country but it must not come from one person's desire."
Tens of thousands of mostly rural protesters loyal to Thaksin remained at their open-air camp in Bangkok for a 17th day on Tuesday as their leaders planned to meet to discuss new strategies to topple the government.
Analysts have said Abhisit, who enjoys solid backing from the military and elites, was unlikely to back down and his decision to meet the "red shirts" was aimed at defusing the tension.
"I see (the talks) as a gesture rather than a genuine need," said Tim Powdrill, an analyst at Riskline ApS. "I think Abhisit's priority is taking the government through to the next elections rather than attempting a resolution that would require real concessions."
On Tuesday, Thailand's cabinet extended an internal security law covering Bangkok and two surrounding areas for another week, to April 6, to allow police and troops to control the protests.
After two rounds of lengthy but fruitless talks with the embattled premier, "red shirt" leaders accused Abhisit of stalling and questioned whether he sincerely wanted to find a way out of the deadlock. "The aim of the 'red shirts' is house dissolution and when the government is just buying time, there's no use in us having more talks," one of the leaders, Jatuporn Prompan, told reporters. "We will meet later to discuss our next move in pushing for house dissolution."
Abhisit left for a two-day visit to Bahrain early today. He has suggested more talks to find a way out of the impasse and it is still possible that protest leaders accede to it.
The "red shirt" protesters question the way he became prime minister -- as head of a coalition they say was put together by the army -- and accuse him of clinging to power and putting off an election his party is not likely to win.
Abhisit's term will expire in December next year, when an election must be called.
The failure of the talks, which was widely anticipated, will add to concerns about the protracted political stalemate in Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy, which could hurt long-term investment.
However, foreigners have continued to pile money into Thailand's stock market, one of Asia's cheapest, to the tune of more than US$1.5 billion since Feb. 22. The stock index was up nearly 1 percent at 0500 GMT, in line with Asian bourses and led by energy shares as the oil price firmed..
BEST INTERESTS
In what appeared to be a swipe at ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the assumed leader and financier of the "red shirts", Abhisit said he decide in the interests of the country, not individuals.
"Our standpoint is clear. The country's benefit must come first," he told reporters. "We all want to find the solution for the country but it must not come from one person's desire."
Tens of thousands of mostly rural protesters loyal to Thaksin remained at their open-air camp in Bangkok for a 17th day on Tuesday as their leaders planned to meet to discuss new strategies to topple the government.
Analysts have said Abhisit, who enjoys solid backing from the military and elites, was unlikely to back down and his decision to meet the "red shirts" was aimed at defusing the tension.
"I see (the talks) as a gesture rather than a genuine need," said Tim Powdrill, an analyst at Riskline ApS. "I think Abhisit's priority is taking the government through to the next elections rather than attempting a resolution that would require real concessions."
On Tuesday, Thailand's cabinet extended an internal security law covering Bangkok and two surrounding areas for another week, to April 6, to allow police and troops to control the protests.
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