Bangkok Red-Shirt Rally - Live Monday

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Red-shirt Leaders Set Tough Conditions for Joining Peace Process

BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt leaders have called off their daily press conference today to discuss their official reaction to the government's proposed peace road map as the premier has insisted terrorism charges against them will not be lifted.

We Love Udon group head and red-shirt leader Kwanchai Praipana criticized Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's five-point reconciliation plan, calling it insincere and unclear.

Kwanchai stated that he and his fellow red-shirt leaders have been unable to agree on their official response to the plan.

He claimed the peace plan was not created from public opinions and thus does not represent the views of the Thai public.

With the exact date of House dissolution not specified in the reconciliation plan, Kwanchai said the red-shirt leaders cannot decide if they will accept or decline the PM's road map.

He said the core red-shirt leaders would review public opinions regarding the issue before moving forward.

Kwanchai said Prime Minister Abhisit and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban must take responsibility for the death of 21 protesters and the injuries of those involved in clashes between demonstrators and state security agents.

He said that if Abhisit and Suthep agree to be held responsible for the incidents, the red-shirt leaders will return to the negotiation table.

The protest leaders have created their own road map to be presented to the government.

But their main concern is that government representatives have affirmed that charges of terrorism cannot be revoked.

Only 20 of the red-shirt leaders have been allowed to seek bail over the charges. They include Suporn Attawong, Arisaman Pongruangrong and Police Lieutenant Colonel Waipoj Apornrat.

Kwanchai was also critical of the premier's refusal to take responsibility for the action against red-shirt protesters.

The red-shirt leader believes the prime minister and other government leaders should be prosecuted for ordering operations that resulted in the loss of civilian lives.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-10

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RED SHIRTS LEADERS

No new team of red shirts leaders : Nuttawut

BANGKOK: -- A red shirt leader on Monday dismissed as groundless a claim by an outspoken general that ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra appointed new team of red shirts leaders.

Nuttawut Saikua said Maj Gen Kattiya Sawasdipol maybe misinformed or misunderstood that Thaksin was not happy with the existing red shirt leaders who Kattiya said were changing their position to a compromising one in their talks with Abhisit government.

"Seh Daeng's report is not correct. Maybe he is misinformed," Nuttawut said.

Kattiya claimed Monday that he talked to Thaksin on a phone on Sunday. "Thaksin said he would appoint of new team of the red shirts leaders."

The new team would exclude Veera Musikapong, Jatuporn Prompan, Dr weng Tohjirakarn and Nuttawut Saikua as they appeared to agree with Abhisit's roadmap and prefer to end the rally.

The group had several secret meeting with Abhisit's team, Kattiya said.

Nuttawut told reporters that even Thaksin has no authority to change the leaders' team.

Each of the new team claimed by Seh Daeng has not yet been contacted about the matter, Nuttawut said.

Kattiya quoted Thaksin as saying that those who did not want to fight on should go home.

The new team comprises Arisamun Pongruengrong, Suporn Attawong, Kwanchai Praipana, Waipot Apornrat.

-- The Nation 2010-05-10

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Poll Panel Submit Evidence on Democrats Dissolution Case to Attorney General

The Election Commission has submitted documents relating to a party dissolution case against the Democrat party to the Attorney General Office.

There are a total of 5 boxes containing nearly 10,000 pages of documentary evidence on the Bt258 million baht illegal donation made to the ruling government coalition party.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-10

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UDD urged to separate from Seh Daeng clearly

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office Satit Wonghnongtaey has urged the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) to cut off relationship with Major General Khattiya Sawasdipol seriously.

Mr Satit stated that the police must arrest Major General Khattiya, also known as 'Seh Daeng’, who has been issued with an arrest warrant. He said the UDD needs to have a clear role toward the army specialist as the latter has been opposing the reconciliation plan of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The minister added that the government is waiting for a decision on the rally dispersal of the UDD in order to take part in the five-step peace plan. Moreover, he said the resolution of the UDD would be raised for discussion at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday at Government House as well.

Meanwhile, Major-General Khattiya believed that UDD supporters do not want the reconciliation roadmap but want the government to dissolve the house as the only one objective. He said he does not fear for the arrest warrant issued by the police as he has neither shown up on the UDD stage nor carried weapons into the rally site.

The police lately issued an arrest warrant against Major-General Khattiya since he was suspected to take part in the violent incidents at Silom and Lumpini Park on 7 and 8 April 2010 respectively, causing 15 injuries and two fatalities.

-- NNT 2010-05-10

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TAN Network: Coalition parties to meet for dinner/political discussion tonight at 7pm at Novotel Suvarnabhumi. PM to attend.

THE NATION: Red leaders have rubbished Seh Daeng's claims that Thaksin's ready to appoint 2nd-gen leaders.

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PM orders swift probe into attacks at EC chief's home, commercial bank

BANGKOK (TNA) -- Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday ordered police to speed up their investigations into the latest attacks at the home of the Election Commission chairman and a Bangkok Bank branch office Sunday night for fear that the violence could ruin his proposed national reconciliation road map.

During a meeting at the Centre of the Resolution for Emergency Solution (CRES), the prime minister ordered a rapid investigation into the small bomb attacks at the home of Apichart Sukhagghanond, chairman of the election agency and Bangkok Bank’s Ratchada-Ladprao branch in order to find the perpetrators for fear of its possible derailing affect on the national reconciliation road map.

Three bombs were found at the chairman’s residence but two misfunctioned.

An M79 grenade was fired at Bangkok Bank but failed to explode. No one was hurt in the two incidents.

Mr Abhisit also ordered tight security at six checkpoints around the protest site at Ratchaprasong to prevent moving weapons out of the area as they can be used by an ill-intentioned group of people to carry out an attack.

Security must be also heightened at the homes of key figures, who can be targets of the attackers.

The reconciliation plan will go ahead and it needs cooperation from all parties. The government will prevent any untoward incident which may ruin the current conciliatory atmosphere, said Mr Abhisit.

CRES has provided security at the protest site as armed elements are still infiltrating among the protesters. The situation if it prolongs is not beneficial for the government in solving the problem.

The prime minister's secretary-general, Korbsak Sabhavasu, has been assigned to seek a response from the UDD Red Shirts to the reconciliation road map proposed by the prime minister.

The prime minister Monday afternoon met with army chief Anupong Paochinda and security officials to evaluate the situation.

In a related development, Prime Minister's Office Minister Satit Wonghnongtaey said that the government still awaited the Red Shirts’ decision on the proposed reconciliation road map.

He added that Red Shirt leaders must state clearly today when to end their protest at Ratchaprasong.

If not, the Cabinet will discuss how to enforce law on Tuesday.

If the Red Shirts cannot make a clear-cut decision, the prolonged protest will cause more troubles and result in the government moving ahead to enforce the law.

Mr Satit emphasised that the UDD leaders have to distance their position over the five-point road map from the interference of Army Specialist Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol who opposed the plan and has close connections with fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Regarding cases of Maj-Gen Khattiya, also known as Seh Daeng, has an outstanding arrest warrant, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who heads CRES, instructed the police to take legal action against the army specialist. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-05-10

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THE NATION: It's getting interesting. Nuttawut: Thaksin is not in a position to change red leadership.

THE NATION: (5.15pm) Reds just left the containers whr they had meeting. they talking again backstage.

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Rajprasong rally hurts more than 14,000: Employment Dept

The ongoing red-shirt rally at the Rajprasong Intersection has hurt the livelihood of more than 14,000 people there, according to statistics compiled by the Employment Department.

The Employment Department said 1,567 employers and 12,546 employees had already come forward to seek help.

The statistics are based on complaints lodged between April 20 and May 9.

-- The Nation 2010-05-10

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DSI will take over cases against PM, Suthep from police

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will take over from police the cases filed against the prime minister and his deputy in charge of security affairs regarding the April 10 crackdown on red shirt protesters.

Tharit Pengdit, the DSI director-general, said Monday that his agency would take over the uncompleted cases being investigated by the Crime Suppression Division.

He also said investigation of other cases filed with police stations had been completed and that the probe reports have been forwarded to the National Counter Corruption Commission, as the cases involve alleged malfeasance by state officials.

-- The Nation 2010-05-10

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THE NATION: Red announcement any minute now.

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THE NATION: Red leaders ask media to listen carefully.

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THE NATION: They say this is their last answer to govt. "It's clear, concise and very straightforward," MC said. via @jin_nation

THE NATION: That was the introduction. Nuttawut and Jatuporn will be making the announcement. In nxt few mins.

THE NATION: Here comes Nuttawut....

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THE NATION: Nuttawut speaking..

THE NATION: Nuttawut: the decision has been made carefully after taking all factors especially the country and redshirt fellows into accounts.

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THE NATION: Nuttawut: We have been fighting peacefully. And that hasn't changed even today.

THE NATION: Nuttawut: We have made history, written by hearts , tears and blood.

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THE NATION: Nuttawut: All violence was caused by govt.

THE NATION: Nuttawut: no one can write off my historical fight.

THE NATION: Nuttawut: We don't want no more losses, even by govt forces or anonymous forces.

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THE NATION: Nuttawut : We are willing to cooperate in road map (despite all govt faults)

THE NATION: Good line from Nuttawut: "We don't want to trade off any lives or blood of our brothers (UDD) with PM Abhisit position."

THE NATION: That was the prelude. Now the "resolution".

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THE NATION: Urgent: Reds accept Nov 14 election date.

THE NATION: Look like redshirts are leaving Rajprasong.//They accept PM's reconciliation offer.

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THE NATION: Nuttawut: Reds expect House to be dissolved btw Sept 15-30 "unconditionally".

THE NATION: Nuttawut: Reds will not accept whatsoever double standard practices regarding all cases. But we will fight all cases under same standard

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THE NATION: Nuttawut: We have filed charges against PM, Suthep over April 10 but the case has not progressed.

THE NATION: Nuttawut: If we are to be executed for terrorism, PM and Suthep must be executed too.

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THE NATION: (in other words, charging us with terrorism without charging PM, Suthep for April 10 deaths is unacceptably double-standard.)

THE NATION: There was a loud cheer in response with Nuttawut's demand for justice.

THE NATION: Urgent: Nuttawut: We will end rally as soon as Suthep turns himself in.

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THE NATION: Nuttawut: powerful ppl. always get amnesty. We don't want the April 10 to repeat history of Oct 14, Oct 6 and May 17...

THE NATION: Repeat: If Suthep doesn't turn himself in for April 10 deaths, Reds won't disperse.

THE NATION: Another demand yet. Nuttawut said govt must "return" PTV to reds immediately.

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THE NATION: Jatuporn (speaking after Nuttawut): I won't surrender to face terrorism charge unless PM turns himself in as well.

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Red shirt leaders announce they agree with Nov 14 election date

Natthawut Saikua and other red-shirt leaders announced a joint statement on Monday that they agreed with the prime minister's proposal to hold the election on November 14.

Natthawut said they agreed with the tentative schedule of House dissolution between September 15 to 30.

-- The Nation 2010-05-10

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Related topic discussion:

Red-Shirts protesters to continue rally until deputy PM Suthep surrenders to Police

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thai-Protest...-S-t363798.html

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THE NATION: here's latest twist. Nuttawut said Reds won't accept Suthep surrendering to DSI. "Conflict of interest", Nuttawut said.

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THE NATION: Now it's official. Suthep will report himself at DSI at 8.30am tomorrow. This is confirmed by Tharit, the director. via @jin_nation

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Deputy PM Meets Red-shirts' Demand, Reports to DSI to Pave Way for Rally Dispersal

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban will report to the Department of Special Investigation tomorrow as demanded by the red-shirt leaders. The core leaders have accused Suthep, as head of the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situation, of being responsible for the deaths that occured on April 10th when security agencies dispersed the red-shirts from Kok Wua intersection

Red-shirt leaders said they'll disperse as soon as Suthep turned himself in.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-10

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