Published: 24/04/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
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Red shirt leaders have softened their stance and proposed to the government a new deadline - that it dissolve the House in 30 days, in a move which has drawn both scepticism and hope.
The compromise offer made yesterday came after red shirt leaders allowed a group of foreign diplomats to observe their rally base at Ratchaprasong intersection in the afternoon.
UDD leader Veera Musikhapong told the diplomats that the UDD was proposing a new stance, that it dissolve the House in 30 days and that new elections be held 60 days after that. This should give the government 90 days to prepare.
He was to hold informal talks with the government last night on the proposal of a new election time-frame of 90 days.
He said that UDD leaders had reached a consensus on a new time frame out of concerns for the safety of the public following Thursday night's M79 grenade attacks in Silom which killed one woman and wounded more than 80 others.
"We are open to negotiation. We want to save lives and are ready to make sacrifices and negotiate," he said.
"This is a compromise time frame and the government should find it acceptable," he said.
Mr Veera said the UDD also wanted the government to end all forms of intimidation and set up a committee to investigate the April 10 and April 22 attacks and to take responsibility for the deaths.
UDD leader Veera Musikhapong told the diplomats that the UDD was proposing a new stance, that it dissolve the House in 30 days and that new elections be held 60 days after that. This should give the government 90 days to prepare.
He was to hold informal talks with the government last night on the proposal of a new election time-frame of 90 days.
He said that UDD leaders had reached a consensus on a new time frame out of concerns for the safety of the public following Thursday night's M79 grenade attacks in Silom which killed one woman and wounded more than 80 others.
"We are open to negotiation. We want to save lives and are ready to make sacrifices and negotiate," he said.
"This is a compromise time frame and the government should find it acceptable," he said.
Mr Veera said the UDD also wanted the government to end all forms of intimidation and set up a committee to investigate the April 10 and April 22 attacks and to take responsibility for the deaths.
"If the government can accept the conditions, we will negotiate. When an agreement is made, we will disperse and peace will return to the country," he said.
Red shirt co-leader Jatuporn Prompan accused the government of waging a proxy war and manipulating people to pursue its course.
"We just want to tell the world we are sensible and we know when to back down," he said, citing the meeting with the foreign diplomats.
"It pains me when people say that when there is an incident, it is the leaders who always survive.
Red shirt co-leader Jatuporn Prompan accused the government of waging a proxy war and manipulating people to pursue its course.
"We just want to tell the world we are sensible and we know when to back down," he said, citing the meeting with the foreign diplomats.
"It pains me when people say that when there is an incident, it is the leaders who always survive.
So we think there should not be any more deaths even though we are willing to fight until death ourselves," he said.
While the government has yet to formally react, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he would not be "intimidated" into finding political solutions.
"I have a duty to solve the problem. If I can't I should not be here," he said.
Before the red shirts' compromise offer, pressure was mounting for the government to take action and strictly enforce the law following the Silom grenade attacks.
Some Thai people said that if the government could not do anything, then it should resign. A coup was also a tempting choice.
"End the protest, dissolve the House, or stage a coup. I don't care, but I want action. There will be damages no matter what, but it is better than this ambiguity," said Manusak Laparojkij, one of the South's largest motorcycle distributors.
Ruam Chart Pattana MP Somchai Chatpattanasri said if the prime minister did not resign he should negotiate with the red shirts about a House dissolution.
Insisting that he was speaking as an individual and not on the party's behalf, he said the prime minister had no time to waste.
Army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda yesterday ruled out use of force to disperse the protest - to avoid huge losses on both sides.
A source said the army chief told a meeting of 200 unit commanders that the red shirts were armed and dangerous.
About 400 of them were armed and several thousand were trained in combat.
Their artillery included M79 grenades, M67 grenades, rocket propelled grenades, and assault rifles, some of which were seized in April 10 clashes.
The source said a dispersal could also trigger the red shirt movement in the provinces, and violence could escalate.
Army deputy spokeswoman Sirichan Ngathong quoted the army chief as saying that the uprising now had two objectives - to return to the corridors of power, and overthrow the monarchy.UDD co-leader Natthawut Saikua dismissed claims that the UDD was linked to the bomb attacks on anti-red shirt demonstrators on Silom Road. He insisted the UDD had stuck to a non-violent approach.
Mr Natthawut said the UDD felt regret for the families of the dead and injured.
He called on the government to step up efforts to find and punish those involved in the grenade attacks.
"I have a duty to solve the problem. If I can't I should not be here," he said.
Before the red shirts' compromise offer, pressure was mounting for the government to take action and strictly enforce the law following the Silom grenade attacks.
Some Thai people said that if the government could not do anything, then it should resign. A coup was also a tempting choice.
"End the protest, dissolve the House, or stage a coup. I don't care, but I want action. There will be damages no matter what, but it is better than this ambiguity," said Manusak Laparojkij, one of the South's largest motorcycle distributors.
Ruam Chart Pattana MP Somchai Chatpattanasri said if the prime minister did not resign he should negotiate with the red shirts about a House dissolution.
Insisting that he was speaking as an individual and not on the party's behalf, he said the prime minister had no time to waste.
Army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda yesterday ruled out use of force to disperse the protest - to avoid huge losses on both sides.
A source said the army chief told a meeting of 200 unit commanders that the red shirts were armed and dangerous.
About 400 of them were armed and several thousand were trained in combat.
Their artillery included M79 grenades, M67 grenades, rocket propelled grenades, and assault rifles, some of which were seized in April 10 clashes.
The source said a dispersal could also trigger the red shirt movement in the provinces, and violence could escalate.
Army deputy spokeswoman Sirichan Ngathong quoted the army chief as saying that the uprising now had two objectives - to return to the corridors of power, and overthrow the monarchy.UDD co-leader Natthawut Saikua dismissed claims that the UDD was linked to the bomb attacks on anti-red shirt demonstrators on Silom Road. He insisted the UDD had stuck to a non-violent approach.
Mr Natthawut said the UDD felt regret for the families of the dead and injured.
He called on the government to step up efforts to find and punish those involved in the grenade attacks.
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