Senators offer to mediate truce

[Mentors]

A number of senators paid a visit to leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship on Wednesday and offerred to convey their demands to a joint parliament meeting on Monday, a Senate source said.

 

The senators made the visit as assigned by Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondej. They were Gen Lertrat Rattanawichai, an appointed senator, Jittipong Viriraroj of Si Sa Ket, Pol Lt-Gen Manoch Krakwong of Surat Thani, Pol Lt-Gen Pichai Sunthornsajjaboon of Udon Thani, and Singchai Thungthong of Uthai Thani.

 

Gen Lertrat told the UDD leaders they were ready to act as a middleman to convey their messages to the government and asked them not to lead the red shirts to lay siege to parliament when there is a meeting there.

 

Veera Musikhapong, a UDD leader, promised not to do that, saying parliament is not in conflict with the red shirts.

 

He reaffirmed the UDD's demand for House dissolution, saying it is a way of returning power to the people. After a fresh election, all sides should accept the results, he added.

 

[color:red]Nathawut Saikua, another UDD leader, said he would like the red shirts to have a chance to explain their stand through a state-run media.[/color]

The UDD would be glad to negotiate if talks were made through state media, he said.

 

[color:red]Gen Lertrat said he would ask Channel 11 of the Public Relations Department to let the red shirts go on the air for about two hours.[/color]

 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/171897/senators-offer-to-mediate-truce

 

 

 

[Flashermac]

<< He reaffirmed the UDD's demand for House dissolution, saying it is a way of returning power to the people. After a fresh election, all sides should accept the results, he added. >>

 

 

If Thaksin's people didn't win the election, does anyone seriously think they would give it up?

 

 

 

[Old Hippie]

If Thaksin's party does win, do you think the opposition will accept it? I mean we have democracy in this country, and yet the last 3 elections, the losing side just can't accept it...

[Flashermac]

Likely scenarios:

 

1) Thaksin's supporters win the most votes, but not a majority. Other parties join with them to form a government. The Yellow Shirts start demonstrating again.

 

2) Thaksin's supporters win the most votes, but not a majority. Others join the Democrats to form a government, including the Yellow Shirts' party. The Red Shirts refuse to accept it and begin demonstrations for "true democracy".

 

It is improbable that the Thaksinistas could achieve a majority by themselves, and even less likely that the Dems could. Whichever party forms the next government, don't expect an end to protests.

 

Back in the mid 1970s, after the "Gang of Three" fled and Thailand had a period of genuine (if chaotic) democracy, the saying was "one man, one gun". Upcountry politicians were shooting each other and candidates were getting murdered by their rivals. Thais have little real experience in democracy and most probably don't even understand it. It is just a slogan to them.