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Thaksin rejects peace effort
HRC holds talks with warring parties
- Published: 19/03/2010 at 12:00 AM
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<!-- end heading-panel --> Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has thrown cold water on an attempt by the National Human Rights Commission to mediate a settlement between government and red shirts.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva joins members of the National Human Rights Commission yesterday at the 11th Infantry Regiment to discuss a proposal to hold peace talks between the government and red shirt protesters to end the political impasse. KITJA APICHONROJAREK
Thaksin yesterday rejected the panel's legitimacy to act as a broker in the conflict.
The commission, led by chairwoman Amara Pongsapich, has been trying to find a way out for both sides since the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship rallies kicked off in Bangkok last Friday.
Earlier this week, the panel held talks with UDD leading members, including Veera Musikhapong, Jaran Dita-apichai and Weng Tojirakarn. It met with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday at the 11th Infantry Regiment.
Its role as mediator had raised hopes of possible negotiations taking place as both the government and the UDD had responded positively.
The ultimate goal of the NHRC-brokered talks was to stop the red shirt protests in Bangkok, said Ms Amara.
"As of now, they have promised to vacate some areas [they are occupying] for the Red Cross Fair," she said.
"That's a positive step. We have to keep talking with the protest leaders to see on which points they can agree. We need to persist with the talks."
The fair is due to be held from March 30 to April 7 on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue down to the Royal Plaza and Amphon Garden.
Commissioner Nirand Phitakwatchara said people were pinning their hopes on the NHRC to negotiate an end to the political conflict.
But he could not promise a quick end to the rally with conditions acceptable to both sides. "I cannot say the rally will end straight away. It will take some time," he said.
Mr Jaran agreed with Mr Nirand's remarks, saying: "Our ultimate goal is that the government must dissolve parliament. But it will take several steps at the negotiating table before we reach that point."
So far, the UDD's rally has been peaceful despite concerns about the possibility of violence from the government and army.
Jatuporn Prompan, another UDD leader, said Mr Abhisit must accept the UDD's demand to dissolve the House of Representatives so there could be a new election.
The People's Alliance for Democracy and UDD must also sign a pact promising they would accept the outcome of the next general election and recognise any political parties that emerge as winners and form a government, he said.
The government has repeatedly made clear its position that it would not dissolve the House before it could be sure it could turn around the economy, speed up constitutional amendments and draw up electoral regulations that are acceptable to all parties.
Mr Abhisit has insisted there must be a guarantee politicians can travel anywhere in the country to woo votes, even in their rivals' strongholds, before he agrees to dissolve the House.
But he said all the UDD demands were negotiable as long as they involve "the interests of the general public", such as the dissolution of the House, and they have nothing to do with Thaksin's personal benefits.
"If the demands are for the sake of a person's benefit, I don't think the government is in a position to talk because the government is duty-bound to act in the interests of the public," the prime minister said.
One of the stumbling blocs to the NHRC's initiative, however, looks like it could be Thaksin himself.
Last night, he rejected the role of the commission as he said it had not been proven it was an independent body. He accused the NHRC of serving the interests of the amataya bureaucratic elite.
Mr Abhisit said he could tolerate abuse from some of the UDD leaders, but he found threats of violence and remarks inciting violence, though spoken politely, unacceptable.
Mr Abhisit also said he was planning to file lawsuits against UDD leaders who used and distributed an audio clip in which he allegedly orders security forces to use violence to put down protesters during the Songkran riots in April last year.
Mr Abhisit said the clip contained his voice but it was doctored. He said he might seek a court injunction banning the use and distribution of the clip.
Mr Abhisit said he would also file defamation lawsuits against Thaksin and Mr Jatuporn.
On Tuesday, Thaksin spoke during a video link address to the red shirts and said Mr Abhisit was "mentally <leo_highlight style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 150); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; display: inline; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" id="leoHighlights_Underline_0" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" leohighlights_keywords="disturbed" leohighlights_url_top="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsTop.jsp?keywords%3Ddisturbed%26domain%3Dwww.bangkokpost.com" leohighlights_url_bottom="http%3A//shortcuts.thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/plugin/highlights/3_1/tbh_highlightsBottom.jsp?keywords%3Ddisturbed%26domain%3Dwww.bangkokpost.com" leohighlights_underline="true">disturbed</leo_highlight>". He also likened the prime minister to Adolf Hitler.
Democrat Party for Bangkok MP Natthapol Theepsuwan, the party's director, said the party would take legal action against the protesters who smeared blood at the party's headquarters.
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