Bangkok Red-Shirt Rally - Live Tuesday

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THE NATION: Nuttawut said annoucement will be made after national anthem at 6.05 pm (via @noppatjak)

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THE NATION: All red leaders on stage now. Veera the last one.

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THE NATION: Veera speaking first.

THE NATION: Veera: We want to see sincerity, through reduction of all kinds of intimidation.

THE NATION: Veera: We are not asking for amnesty for ourselves on terrorism and monarchy-related charges. We will fight the charges by ourselves.

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THE NATION: Veera: Govt must stop involving the monarchy in the conflict.

THE NATION: Red shirts "do not mind" entering into a reconciliatory process, but we need clarity from government.

THE NATION: Govt must specifically say when the House will be dissolved, Veera and Nuttawut said.

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THE NATION: Red leaders dare govt to charge them with terrorism and attempts to overthrw monarchy.

THE NATION: "We will never use amnesty as a bargain," said Nuttawut.

THE NATION: The leaders challenged govt to take legal action against people responsible for April 10 bloodshed as well as the Vibhavadi violence.

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THE NATION: Nuttawut: Govt must give the April 10, 22 and 28 cases to DSI and punish the culprits.

THE NATION: Nuttawut's demanding return of media freedom to reds.

THE NATION: To sum up: they (redshirt) agree on reconciliation but they want clear-cut details on the date of House dissolution.

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THE NATION: Now Nuttawut is preaching freedom: "People must have rights to travel, peacefully assemble (w/out arms) & to receive info"

THE NATION: "Reconciliation can't be forced. We will shw u maps of troops stationed around rajprasong so u can see if this is reconciliation" Jatuporn

THE NATION: Jatuporn: "No force should be used in reconciliation process."

THE NATION: Jatuporn is listing cases involving yellow shirts (back to double-standard claims)

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THE NATION: Jatuporn: DSI making up evidence and false witnesses against reds.

THE NATION: Jatuporn: Troops are still stationed in Rajprasong so you can see whether this is reconcillation.

THE NATION: Jatuporn: No attempt whatsoever to arrest those responsible for killing protesters.

THE NATION: Jatuporn: We won't trade fake terrorism charges with real charges of murdering the people.

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THE NATION: Jatuporn: "We won't trade your (reds') ideology with false charges."

THE NATION: Now Weng.

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Veera Agrees to Join Peace Talks to Avoid More Death

Red-shirt core leader Veera Musikkapong has formally accepted the proposal made by PM Abhisit Vejjajiva as a foundation for further negotiations to end the red-shirt rally to avoid any more casualty.

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Red-shirt Core Leaders Will Not Bargain for Amnesty

Jatuporn Promphan, one of the core red-shirt leaders, said the red-shirt protesters will not enter into a barter deal or negotiate with the government in order to gain amnesty for charges which have been made against them.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-04

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TAN Network: Reds to distribute booklets of frequently asked questions abt objectives of red-shirt rally,contain ans Q. abt new Thai state,etc

NATION: Weng: Abhisit frames red shirts every single day.

THE NATION: Red leaders seem split toward Road Map. Veera and Nuttawut more receptive but Jatuporn , who received loud cheers from crowds, is v aggrssiv

THE NATION: Red leaders apparently will keep us in suspense for at least a few more days.

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THE NATION: Reds' conditions, particularly ones spelled out by Jatuporn and partly Nuttawut, are impossible to accept when PM is concerned.

THE NATION: i'm not surprised by the strong challenges regarding terrorism/monarchy charges. they have to say that, esp in front of the protesters.

THE NATION: it seems more like red leaders using the media occasion to hit back at govt rather than discussing Road Map.

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THE NATION: What matters, though, could be what is to be said "outside" the stage, albeit with reporters.

THE NATION: On stage, the leaders have to keep "form" and avoid looking too eager to go home.

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Red-shirt leaders demand PM to specify House dissolution date

The red-shirt leaders Tuesday demanded that the prime minister announce a specific day for House dissolution before they will join the government's roadmap for political resolution.

They announced that the prime minister had no authority to set the election date on November 14 as the power belongs to the Election Commission.

They demanded that the government must show its sincerity towards political reconciliation by halting all kinds of intimidation towards the red-shirt protesters.

-- The Nation 2010-05-04

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MCOTEnglishnews Court allows DSI to use existing arrest warants, adding terrorist charges against 9 UDD core leaders if they are detained

MCOTEnglishnews: 70-year-old cancer patient, moved from Chulalongkorn Hospital to Kasemrad Hospital, dies

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Reds conditionally agree to the road map

By The Nation

The red shirts have accepted the road map for reconciliation under four condition, their leader Veera Musigapong said from the Rajprasong rally site.

The four conditions are a clear date for the dissolution of Parliament paving way for the November 14 poll, a show of sincerity by stopping all types of intimidation, no amnesty on criminal charges related to terrorism and anti-monarchy offence and immediate stop to involving the monarchy in the political conflict.

Veera said the red-shirt leaders had formed an unanimous decision for the conditional acceptance of the road map for reconciliation in order to prevent further loss of life.

Red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua said the red shirts were prepared to fight their charges to the fullest extent of the law and that he challenged the government and the authorities to face up to the same legal treatment if found to have involved in the killings of innocent people in the April 10 violence.

-- The Nation 2010-05-04

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THE NATION: Have finished an urgent news meeting. Most editors agreed that having to announce decisions on stage explains the belligerence.

THE NATION: We are trying to filter essence of the leadrs' decisions. A large percentage of what was said on stage was a charade.

THE NATION: We still believe that the leaders can't wait to leave Rajprasong. The question is how.

THE NATION: Even the demand for House dissolution date is silly. They can just open the Constitution and count the days back from Nov 14.

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Red Shirt leaders accept PM's road map for reconciliation, but demand specific date for House dissolution

BANGKOK (TNA) -- Thailand's anti-government 'Red Shirt' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) on Tuesday accepted Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's road map for national reconciliation but want the government to announce a specific date for dissolving the Lower House of Parliament.

While a preliminary understanding has been reached, the protesters will not disperse until they see details of Mr Abhisit's road map. They said Mr Abhisit does not have the authority to see an election date, but urged him to propose a timetable for dissolving Parliament.

UDD leader Veera Musikapong told the Red Shirt protesters at Ratchaprasong intersection that the leadership had discussed and agreed unanimously to accept the premier's five-point road map as they were previously UDD demands.

The UDD also did not want the protesters to risk losing their lives or injuries if a crackdown was to take place, he said.

However, Mr Veera said the UDD wanted to see clearer picture in some aspects that could lead to negotiation.

The protesters will not disperse until they see details of the road map.

He said that fixing the election date was not prime minister's authority but that of the Election Commission.

The UDD leaders who faced arrest warrants would not seek for amnesty, he said.

"We want prime minister to announce a clear timeframe for dissolving the House dissolution and the UDD wants sincerity from the government by stop all kind of intimidating against the UDD. The UDD will not seek amnesty on charges including attempting to overthrow the monarchy, or terrorism. We are ready to fight the accusation," said Mr Veera.

Meanwhile, UDD core leader Jatuporn Prompan said that what the prime minister announced about the road map was not fully under his authority, such as setting an election date.

He said the UDD wanted Mr Abhisit to specify the House dissolution date and then the protesters would enter into negotiation to see the details of the five point road map.

How the road map would be proceeded would be discussed and the UDD wanted to know the amnesty toward the politicians who were banned from politics would cover the Democrat Party which facing the dissolution or not, he said.

Mr Jatuporn also called for the government to including the bloody incidents on April 10, 22 and 28 to be cases under the Department of Special Investigation.

Mr Abhisit on Monday proposed a road map for national reconciliation to end the political crisis and set a general election on November 14.

Under the plan, the monarchy must not be used as a tool in political conflicts, but all parties should help protect and respect the institution;

Reform the country to end the conflict and restore justice in society, including increased economic equality;

Principles of the right to freedom of expression should be observed, but the media must avoid reports that could incite or instigate conflict in society;

Establishing an independent fact-finding panel on the fatalities when protesters and security forces clashed on April 10 at Ratchadamnoen Avenue's Khok Wua intersection, at Silom Road on April 22 and at Don Mueang on April 28;

All political parties should join together in amending the Constitution, with some legal issues to be agreed upon by all sides.

Convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra earlier on Tuesday telephoned, calling for national reconciliation on the eve of the Coronation Day on May 5.

Mr Thaksin on Tuesday addressed a news conference where his legal adviser Noppadon Pattama contacted him to telephone the Thai media to challenge rumours of his death.

Mr Thaksin said May 5, Coronation Day, is an auspicious time to start a good thing and to begin reconciliation.

The ousted premier refused to comment whether he agreed with Mr Abhisit’s proposal for a fresh election on November 14, saying it has nothing to do with him, as he is banned from politics for five years and convicted by a court.

"It is up to the Red Shirts’ whether or not they accept the proposal. I'm only an observer," the telecom tycoon-turned-politician said.

Mr Thaksin, now living in self-exile abroad to avoid a two-year jail term for violating Thailand's conflict of interest law, also urged all parties to respect the law which must be applied to all fairly, without the double standards that have caused the current political crisis. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-05-04

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ThaivisaNews: BTS Skytrain: Effective from May 5, BTS will provide services at all stations from 6am to midnight.