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PM Vejj planning to attack the RED SHIRTS
PM rejects softened red-shirt demands Dissolution deadline 30 days, talks set to restart * Published: 24/04/2010 at 12:00 AM Politics plunged back into crisis on Saturday when Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva rejected a compromise offer from the red shirts, who said they were now braced for a crackdown. Thousands of supporters of the multi-coloured group gather at the Royal Plaza yesterday afternoon to oppose the red shirt rallies and support the government. THAPANAN THONGSUBHIRAN Hopes for an agreement to end weeks of protests, which have been punctuated by deadly street clashes, evaporated as Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva ruled out the offer by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) to disperse its protest if polls were called in 30 days. "No, I reject it. Because they use violence and intimidation I cannot accept this," Abhisit said of the proposal which would have seen a ballot held in 90 days and was a softening of earlier demands for snap polls. "The dissolution (of parliament) must be done for the benefit of the entire country, not just for the red shirts, and it must be done at the right time," he told reporters. In an immediate response the UDD leaders said they would now prepare for a military crackdown to clear their heavily fortified rally encampment which has paralysed Bangkok's upscale district for three weeks. "Abhisit has ordered a crackdown on protesters within 48 hours, that is the information I have learned," said Reds leader Natthawut Saikua. Mr Natthawut did not say where the information came from but other red shirt leaders said earlier Saturday they had learned from sympathisers in the army that troops were being mobilised despite ongoing negotiations. Army spokesman Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd kept up the pressure Saturday, saying an offensive could still be launched to target red- shirt "terrorists". "At the appropriate time, it would not be a dispersal, it would be a crackdown on those terrorists. At the moment the conditions are not right but I'm convinced that at some point we can crush them all." Mr Natthawut said the reds would strip off the symbols of their allegiance - the red T-shirts and other garb they have sported for weeks - to help them fight back against the government. He said they would stick to a policy of non-violence, but other red- shirt figures speaking on a stage at their sprawling camp in the heart of Bangkok promised a "guerrilla war" against the government. The United Nations and foreign governments have urged both sides on Thailand's political divide to find a peaceful resolution, after two bouts of street violence on April 10 and last week left 26 dead and hundreds injured. "The 30-day concession is just aimed at getting the attention of foreign media. I don't think it is the answer to the problems," Mr Abhisit said. "Tomorrow (Sunday morning Thailand time) everything will become more clear when I and the army chief will jointly appear on my weekly television address." Fears of a crackdown escalated earlier this week amid warnings from the military that protesters would face live weapons fire in any new clashes. Army chief Anupong Paojinda toned down the rhetoric on Friday, saying that the use of force was no solution to the crisis, which has damaged the economy and its international image as the Land of Smiles. "The best thing is to create understanding among the people. The army's job now is to take care of the people, and not allow Thais to attack each other," he said. Mr Abhisit condemned fresh violence on Thursday that saw a series of grenade blasts tear through a pro-government rally, saying the attacks, which left one dead and scores injured, "aimed to kill ordinary people". (AFP) |
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PM Vejj planning to attack the RED SHIRTS
An election held within the next 30 days would likely be a very
emotional, over-heated, violent affair, and Abisit is surely correct to refuse to do it. |
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