Bangkok Red-Shirt Rally - Live Thursday

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MCOTEnglishnews: Red Shirt lawyer files complaint to court seeking withdrawal of arrest warrants against 16 protest leaders; court sets to rule May 11

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MCOTEnglishnews: 45 Ratchaprasong workers unemployed due to Red Shirt protest, 24,400 affected; retail businesses lose Bt5 bln monthly, hoteliers Bt600 mln

@BangkokDan: Time: "Statesman" Abhisit gains upper hand" over red shirts "armed with grenades, assault rifles and other weapons

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Chinese tourists to return: Senate tourism committee

Tourists from China would soon return to Thailand again after the trips were cancelled in April following violence, Senate Committee on Tourism chairwoman Tanyarum Auchariya said on Thursday.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's reconciliation road map is an alternative option that would possibly solve the current political deadlock. The road map is believed to rebuild positive views to all and restore the country's reputation, she said.

The situation is being monitered by many tourists and investors around the world.

"I have been contacted by Chinese tour groups who wish to make their visits to Phuket now. They cancelled in April due to the political unrest", she said.

"I believe that from now on business and investment sectors will get better and have a positive response", she said.

Although political turmoil has hit tourism, tourism in Phuket has always sprung back into life as soon as the political situation returns to normal, she said.

-- The Nation 2010-05-06

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THE NATION: From rajprasong stage: We are confused. Now yellow shirts try to shoo govt away. So maybe PM shud get his house in order b4 we end protest.

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TAN Network: INN: Red shirts postpone decision on road map; say PM should "clear the air" with PAD first

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TAN Network: PAD representatives leave Parliament after discussions with PM; press awaiting details of talks

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Red Shirts Delay Decision on Road Map; Want PM to "Clear the Air" with PAD First

Red shirt leader Natthawut Saikeu has revealed that his group has delayed their decision on the prime minister's proposed road map.

He says the group will wait until the prime minister has "cleared the air" with the People's Alliance for Democracy before making a final decision.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-06

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Red shirts will continue to rally: Nuttawut

BANGKOK: -- Red Shirt Co-leader Nuttawut Saikua said Thursday the red shirts would still continue their occupation at the Rajprasong intersection unless Prime Minister Abisit Vejjajiva comes up with a final solution from all parties about the reconciliation.

Nuttawut said during the press conference on Thursday evening that the red shirts protestors would still hold their rally site at the Bangkok's business and shopping area after the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), or the yellow shirted people, demanded for his resignation if he is unable to solve the current political predicament.

"Now that the PAD wants to the Prime Minister to step down from his post We are confused as they have the agenda like ours. So PM should clear with the PAD first and also seek approvals from the coalition parties about the reconciliation first. When all matters are cleared, PM can bring the final solution to us. As for now, we will continue to stay here,'' said Nuttawut.

PM is due to talk with the PAD Thrusday evening. The Yellows who normally supports the Abhisit government condemned the prime minister on Thursday's afternoon after the premier turned out to apply leniency and not disperse the protestors at Rajprasong and arrest terrorists.

-- The Nation 2010-05-06

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TAN Network: After discussions with PM, PAD still insists time frame for dissolution too early

TAN Network: PAD: We don't think 4 n half months is enough to solve Thailand's problems

TAN Network: PAD: PM assures us he will not try to amend Constitution to benefit politicians

TAN Network: PM: PAD has the right to disagree with my plan but I will move forward

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THE NATION:

1. Reds want to reconcile (all dying to) and say the road map is good but at the same time they don't trust PM & co.

2. Red leaders announced on stage they won't fight for amnesty but they all fear for cases esp. terrorism charge.

3. Like PM, the red leaders have to try their best to convince #redshirts that reconciliation doesn't mean they give in.

4. The most confusing part so far is that when Yellow wants Abhisit out, they could be considered 'friends".??

Nuttawut just said that he was quite surprised about yellow-shirt stand on Abhisit. "They never liked any PM so far," he said.

5. and redshirts must be pretty confused. Leaders said they come and fight for democracy but it seems they're told who to vote for.

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THE NATION: Forget to say someone tweets to Thaksin and told him to clarify the objective of redshirts rally. "leaders didn't make it clear."

THE NATION: @thaksinlive: replied the tweet that he would talk to them.

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4 patients died from Chulalongkorn Hospital evacuation

BANGKOK (NNT) -- A total of 4 patients of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital have been pronounced dead after being relocated due to the anti-government protesters’ intrusion of the compound last week.

According to Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit, a total of 196 patients were temporarily transferred from Chulalongkorn Hospital to 49 other hospitals following the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD)’s raid of the hospital. The minister reported that three transferred patients had died from cancer and another died from obesity, heart disease and renal failure.

The temporary suspension of Chulalongkorn Hospital’s medical operations was announced for safety reason after a group of UDD protesters, led by core figure Payap Panket, stormed into the hospital on 29 April in search of security troops rumored to be hiding inside and preparing for a crowd dispersal operation.

King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital has fully resumed its services today following the UDD’s agreement to recede from the area and unblock the hospital’s entrance.

-- NNT 2010-05-06

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PAD lambasts PM’s reconciliation roadmap

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has condemned the roadmap for national reconciliation proposed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The PAD on Thursday issued a statement supporting PM Abhisit’s proposal to reform the country and establish a welfare state for the benefit of the country as a whole. However, the group strongly opposed the five-point reconciliation roadmap as well as the new general election scheduled for 14 November 2010. They pleaded the Prime Minister to revise his plan and stop reconciling with the anti-government United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), which had been alleged of terrorism and conspiracy to overthrow the monarchy.

The statement claimed that the PM’s proposed election date might have been drawn from a confidential negotiation between the government and the UDD. The group presumed that the government might only want to complete the 2011 budget bill, reshuffle high-ranking military and police figures, amend the charter to favor its coalition parties and prevent the Democrat Party from being disbanded while allowing the pro-Thaksin alliance to take over the power.

The PAD deemed the PM’s reconciliation plan as adverse impact towards the nation's reform and the judicial process as politicians would now attempt to win the election at all costs and state officials responsible for terrorism and lese majesty cases would become negligent of their duties.

The group blamed the government's failure to enforce the law and the UDD’s lack of humanity for the recent loss of lives and damages to the nation. If no action was yet taken by PM Abhisit, the PAD suggested him to resign and allow a more capable individual to step in.

-- NNT 2010-05-06

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THE NATION: Arisman: redshirts protest will end before May15, waiting 4govt talk w/ coalition parties. Then v(reds)'ll fight court case.

THE NATION: Recap: Yellows ask PM to revise road map or quit, Reds sitting on the fence, and PM asks reds to leave rajprasong soon or deal's off.

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nationnews: Chula hospital opens special OPD clinic this weekend (May 8-9). Call 02-256-4409 ,02-256-4260 for inquiry.

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PM Abhisit and PAD Agree to Disagree

BANGKOK: -- After approximately two hours of discussions with the prime minister, representatives of the People’s Alliance for Democracy left the Parliament building, noting that the discussions ended with both sides agreeing to disagree. PAD Leader Pipop Thongchai and group member Parntape Pourpongpan represented the People’s Alliance for Democracy as they accepted an invitation by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to discuss various points of the so-called political road map.

Both Pipop and Parntape spoke to reporters following the meeting, saying there were many points which the two sides agree on, namely the various issues that need to be addressed in Thai society. However, the two sides could not agree on the proposed time frame of four and a half months before dissolution of the House of Representatives.

The PAD reiterated that they did not feel that the allotted time was enough to solve Thailand’s problems. However, the prime minister felt that he could accomplish significant ground in solving those problems before House dissolution.

Both sides went away from the discussions agreeing to disagree. The PAD say they are still insisting that the government review the details of the prime minister’s road map, but Prime Minister Abhisit insists that he will move ahead with his plan. He says the PAD had a right to disagree, but he also has the right to push forward with the proposition.

On the issue of charter amendment, PAD member Parntape Pourpongpan revealed the yellow camp was satisfied with reassures from the prime minister that the government would not try to amend the Constitution to the benefit of politicians. The prime minister confirmed this point by telling with reporters that the stance was never something the Democrat Party agreed with.

Meanwhile, in the red shirt camp, Natthawut Saikeu announced earlier in the evening that the red shirts were delaying their decision on the government’s road map. He said that they are giving the prime minister time to “clear the air” with the PAD before coming to a final decision on the issue.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-06

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PM'S PEACE PLAN

PM calls Songkhla student to explain roadmap

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva personally called a political science student at a university in Songkhla to explain his roadmap and the circumstances that forced him to set the November 14 elections. The call was in response to the student's text message.

Thanawat Waharak, 20, who is studying at Hat Yai University, said he sent an SMS to the PM's mobile number at 10.54pm on Tuesday to say he was disappointed by his decision to dissolve the House as demanded by the red shirts.

"My SMS said I was very disappointed in him, and that I was losing faith in him after he announced the date for House dissolution. I also said that agreeing to negotiate with the red shirts could possibly make him the next tyrant after [former PM] Thaksin [shinawatra]. I also demanded that he explain why he didn't answer the situation better," Thanawat said.

At 11.08pm, the student received a phone call and the caller said, "Sawasdee khrub, I am Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva."

During the phone call, Abhisit said he understood why the public was so frustrated, but they must understand that he was under huge pressure. "He said that if any dispersal tactics were employed, they would surely cause the loss of lives. He said he did not want to see that happen anymore," Thanawat recounted.

He also quoted the PM as saying that fivepoint roadmap was offered as a way out for the red shirts, however if the movement's leaders refused to accept it, then it clearly showed that they were not sincere in resolving the political deadlock.

Abhisit also said he was under constant pressure, especially from Thaksin, who kept calling coalition parties' executives to abandon the government. Therefore, he said, he had to find the best way out of this situation.

Thanawat also quoted the PM as saying that the public should not worry about the government's handling of those facing lese majeste charges, because it was a sensitive issue that had affected public sentiment and that he was handling it himself.

"I have a back up plan for that issue," the student quoted the premier as saying.

Before hanging up, Abhisit said that the public should not worry and that he understood what they were feeling, Thanawat said.

-- The Nation 2010-05-06

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