Bangkok - Leaders of anti-government protests on Tuesday mulled Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's national reconciliation proposal, including his pledge to hold elections by November 14.
Abhisit announced the five-point proposal Monday night hoping to end the two-month protest by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), better known as the red shirts, who demand the dissolution of parliament and new elections.
UDD leaders met Tuesday to discuss the proposal, which was reportedly accepted by fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, a key supporter and leader of the protest from afar.
"Thaksin called in to say the timing of the proposal was right, but he's leaving it up to the red shirts to negotiate the details," UDD spokesman Sean Boonpracong said.
Thaksin, a populist prime minister during 2001-06, has been living abroad since August 2008 to avoid a two-year prison sentence for corruption.
The proposal raised hopes for a peaceful solution to the political crisis, which has claimed 27 lives and left more than 900 injured.
"The prime minister has offered an election timetable, so the onus is now on the protesters to accept this proposal," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University.
Under Thai law, Abhisit must dissolve parliament 45 to 60 days before an election, meaning he would sacrifice more than a year of his term which was slated to end in December 2011.
"What we don't want is acts of bad faith, and manipulations behind the scenes and then a breakdown of negotiations," Thitinan warned.
Abhisit broadcast an appeal to the UDD Monday night, saying that it would be appropriate to end the protest by Wednesday's Coronation Day holiday for 82-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The first step of Abhisit's proposal was a commitment by all sides to uphold the monarchy, and prevent the institution form being drawn into politics.
The protest, the first popular uprising against the establishment since the communist threat of the 1960s and 70s, has raised issues of class struggle, income disparity, injustice and the role of the centuries-old monarchy.
The government said it would guarantee press freedom and establish an independent investigation of the April 10 clash between troops and protesters that left 25 people dead and nearly 800 injured.
The social issues raised by the unusual protest, which has seen the heart of Bangkok seized by protesters since April 3, would also be investigated. All sides would have to agree to mutually acceptable political rules for free, fair and peaceful elections.
The UDD has been drawing between 5,000 to 10,000 supporters daily to its main site in a posh commercial district.
The protesters have barricaded themselves behind rubber tyres, barbed wire and sharpened bamboo stakes, and a military crackdown would lead to heavy casualties, observers said.
Some protesters strongly opposed Abhisit's proposal.
"November 14 is too long," said Pon Pochana, a motorcycle taxi driver from Buriram province. "I think we should only give him one to two weeks to get out."
Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/321893,protest-leaders-consider-thai-premiers-reconciliation-offer.html.
An Open Letter to Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan
9 years ago
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.