Yellow PAD rejects UDD's proposal

[Mentors]

Thailand's anti-Thaksin yellow-clad People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on Monday announced the group's opposition to the rival Red Shirt's proposal to dissolve the House, saying it's not the way out of the country's polarised political crisis.

 

The yellow shirts issued a statement following the Sunday negotiation to find solution to the current political stalemate between Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the three Red Shirt leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and few hours ahead of the second round of talk will begin.

The Sunday talk ended without any concrete solution to the country's current political crisis with both sides refusing to back down on their positions. But the parties agreed to resume negotiations Monday at 6pm.

 

The UDD demanded that the prime minister dissolve the House but Mr Abhisit did not decide the matter.

PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila read the group's statement after a meeting of key Yellow Shirt leaders that the movement agreed with the talks as solution of the problems at hand to ease tensions, confrontations and effects on the public which have been caused by the protests.

 

Mr Suriyasai asserted, as he read the statement, that the government must not accept any negotiation which can become a tool to build legitimacy to fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

 

"Dissolution of the parliament is not the solution to the country's [political situation], although it is the solution to resolve the conflict under a democratic system," said the PAD statement."The proposal of the Red Shirt has a hidden agenda to help Mr Thaksin."

 

If there was House dissolution, it would pave the way for Mr Thaksin to return to power, it said.

 

The PAD objects to the House dissolution and reaffirms its stance opposing to the charter amendment which will give advantages to some groups of politicians, according to the statement which, however, said it will support only the amendment of the Constitution which is beneficial to all Thais.

The statement added that it sees the current political conflict is a big crisis which needs reformation in all aspects with participation of every party and sector, while proposing the issue to be raised as national agenda.

 

"The PAD reaffirmed that we will not aggravate the country's divisiveness and will carry out moves which serve the public interest," according to the statement. "The PAD warned the public to avoid any inciting [of disorder] or any confrontation with the anti-government protesters which could lead to violence."

 

The statement said that PAD will hold a meeting of its network to express the group's stance and help find solution to the country's political crisis soon.

 

The so-called Yellow Shirt movement staged marathon mass protests to oust the ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra which ended after the military coup d'etat in September 2006.

The PAD reunited and launched its mass street protests again to topple the governments of Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat which they accused of being proxies of ousted premier Thaksin. The movement against the then government which led to the seizure of the country's two main airports ended shortly after the Constitutional Court dissolved the People's Power Party in December 2008. (TNA)

 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/173192/pad-rejects-udd-proposal

[Mekong]