Bangkok Red-Shirt Rally - Live Monday

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THE NATION: Veera informed #redshirts about PM's election date and the crowd roared. However, reds will talk & decide tmrrw.

THE NATION: Weng on PM's proposal: It gives good signal but we have to listen to #redshirts across the country. via @adisaklive

THE NATION: Chaturon on PM's proposal: The proposal sounds interesting but I have to go into detials about reconciliation. via @adisaklive.

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Thai government holds emergency meeting over protests

An emergency meeting has been held in Thailand by the country's cabinet to decide how to deal with the anti-government protesters who have brought parts of Bangkok to a standstill for the past seven weeks.

Read more: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8657659.stm

-- BBC 2010-05-03

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PM's Road Map Floats Nov 14 as Possible Date for Next Election

BANGKOK: -- In his proposed solution to Thailand’s current political crisis, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has named six problematic areas which he feels need to be corrected in order for Thai society to move forward. Among them are addressing the issues of inequality, media reform, and charter amendments. If all six issues can be dealt with in a timely matter, Prime Minister Abhisit claims that his administration feels it would be appropriate to hold the next general elections on November 14, 2010.

In a televised address, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva named six major issues which need to be dealt with before the current political crisis can be resolved.

The first problem is the defamation of the monarchy. The prime minister said that it is unfortunate that many groups have resorted to defaming the monarchy in their pursuit of their political ambitions. He said these groups must be stopped.

The second problem named by Prime Minister Abhisit is the issue of inequality. He said that one thing that has become apparent following the mass rallies by the red shirt protesters is that a significant number of Thais feel they have been treated unfairly, both in terms of social standing and economic development. He said that the government must come up with measures to correct this, measures that will bind future governments in continuing to solve the issue of inequality in Thailand.

The third problem pinpointed by the premier includes media reform. Prime Minister Abhisit said that in the past several years, technological developments have allowed media organizations to provide alternative media to the public. Unfortunately, many times, those media have been used as political tools by certain groups in Thailand’s political arena. Government measures should aim to solve this problem, at the same time, preserving press freedom. Those measures need to make sure that the information being put out by these alternative media must not incite violence or become a threat to national security.

The fourth problem, according to the prime minister, is the enforcement of law. He said that in the past couple of months, there have been many incidents where violence has erupted, resulting in the lost of lives. His administration will push forward with setting up an independent committee to investigate allegations launched by various groups in order for society to have a common understanding.

The fifth and final problem is political reform. Prime Minister Abhisit said that the current political rules and regulations have been widely debated in Thai society. Some may need to be amended. Some should be further enforced. Abhisit said deliberations and decisions need to be made as to which should be corrected. He went on to say that if the rules can be amended in a timely matter, he can roughly predict the next general elections for November 14, 2010.

After going into detail of his so-called “road map”, Prime Minister Abhisit threw the ball back into the protesters’ court, asking if they find his plan acceptable. If so, they should work with the government to solve these various issues and continue developing Thailand into a prosperous and peaceful country like it once was.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-03

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