Bangkok: Thai Prime Minister Abhisit
Vejjajiva on Tuesday expressed regret that his government’s
reconciliation proposal to dissolve the Parliament at year end
was rejected immediately by the Red Shirt leaders.
"It's a pity," Mr Abhisit said, affirming that the
government is ready to hold additional talks provided that the
demonstration remains peaceful.
Mr Abhisit said he demonstrated his willingness in
attempting to end the country?s political conflict but his
proposal (to work for another nine months on the government?s
budget disbursement and a public referendum on constitutional
amendments) was rejected right away during yesterday?s
negotiation.
However, the protesters can exercise their right under
the constitution to intensify their campaign, he said.
Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced to
walk on a separate path from the government was his own agenda
not the national agenda, Mr Abhisit said, adding that he did
not want people to become political victims.
Democrat Party deputy secretary-general Chamni Sakdiseth,
one of the government?s three negotiators, said the Abhisit
government will go ahead with negotiations with the Red Shirt
leaders but is yet to start the process to amend the
constitution which will lead to the House dissolution within
nine months as the Red Shirts rejected the government?s
proposal.
He said the negotiation failed because the Red Shirt
leaders did not use the forum to find the solution but instead
using it to express their political views.
The Red Shirt representatives, who held talks with the
government are not the real persons who are the root of the
problem and Red Shirt leader Veera Muksikapong is not the
person who has the final say, Mr Chamni said.
However, the government will try to continue with talks
to solve the conflict although the Red Shirt leaders initially
refused to talk, he said.
The Red Shirt leaders announced at their main protest
site in Bangkok?s historic inner area that they will continue
their two-weeks plus campaign pressuring the prime minister to
dissolve the parliament through peaceful means, while urging
their supporters nationwide to join the group's mass protest
in Bangkok to oust the Abhisit administration.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 17:52