Thai Red-shirts Continue Protests
- 14 years ago
In Thailand, red-shirted supporters are continuing to call for fresh elections. But the government in Bangkok is holding its ground... refusing to give into the protesters' demands.
Red-shirted protesters vow to prolong their mass anti-government rally in Bangkok though many of them have returned home after Saturday's citywide rally.
The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), which is calling for snap elections, rejected an offer of negotiations by the government after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva ruled out parliamentary dissolution and assigned another minister to attend the talks.
Red-shirted supporters of ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who rallied for a ninth day, insisted they had not closed the door but would talk only with Abhisit and on the condition that house dissolution was on the agenda.
[Suwichai Sriboonrueng, Protester]: (Thai)
"I don't think the negotiation with the government will happen because both sides are not agreeing on the conditions. We only want the parliament to be dissolved."
Abhisit has refused to bow to pressure to dissolve parliament, insisting the country is too divided to face an election.
While Abhisit still maintains the backing of the military and a majority in parliament, the UDD insists it will keep up the protest to disrupt Bangkok and undermine the premier's leadership.
Overthrown in a 2006 coup and sentenced in absentia to two years in prison for graft, the twice-elected Thaksin is fighting to return from self-imposed exile and wrestle back de facto political power through his allies in the opposition party.
Red-shirted protesters vow to prolong their mass anti-government rally in Bangkok though many of them have returned home after Saturday's citywide rally.
The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), which is calling for snap elections, rejected an offer of negotiations by the government after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva ruled out parliamentary dissolution and assigned another minister to attend the talks.
Red-shirted supporters of ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who rallied for a ninth day, insisted they had not closed the door but would talk only with Abhisit and on the condition that house dissolution was on the agenda.
[Suwichai Sriboonrueng, Protester]: (Thai)
"I don't think the negotiation with the government will happen because both sides are not agreeing on the conditions. We only want the parliament to be dissolved."
Abhisit has refused to bow to pressure to dissolve parliament, insisting the country is too divided to face an election.
While Abhisit still maintains the backing of the military and a majority in parliament, the UDD insists it will keep up the protest to disrupt Bangkok and undermine the premier's leadership.
Overthrown in a 2006 coup and sentenced in absentia to two years in prison for graft, the twice-elected Thaksin is fighting to return from self-imposed exile and wrestle back de facto political power through his allies in the opposition party.