UDD Red Shirts cancel political talk show scheduled for King’s birthday

BANGKOK, Dec 4 -- Thailand's anti-government Red Shirts, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) have cancelled their plan to hold a political talk show on Sunday, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 83rd birthday, a UDD leader said Saturday.

Sombat Boonngamanong, leader of the Red Sunday group, told a press conference that the UDD had decided to drop their plan to hold a political talk show at a major shopping mall in Bangkok tomorrow following talks with Pol Maj-Gen Vichai Sangprapai, commander of Bangkok's Metropolitan Police Division 1, assigned by the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) to negotiate with the activists to cancel their activity.

However, the UDD will organise polical talks show on Monday as planned, Mr Sombat said.

The protest leader said the senior police officer was under pressure and was less flexible in pushing the UDD to cancel the political event prepared for Sunday.

Special Branch police were earlier instructed to closely monitor and videotape Sunday’s planned talk show for use as evidence in case the demonstrators breached the law.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in regard to the UDD plan to rally Dec 10 -- Thailand’s Constitution Day -- that he received no intelligence report so far that there would be disturbances on that day.

Mr Abhisit said he wanted to meet with the UDD leaders or any other group if such encounters would bring about peace to the country.

That a plan by People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) activists to postpone their anti-government rally, planned earlier for next Saturday to Jan 25, would help in revoking emergency decree imposed in the country by the government, Mr Abhisit said the issue is being considered by his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban and the CRES.

The planned PAD rally must be held within the legal framework and if peace prevailed, the decree could be lifted before its expiry on Jan 7, Mr Abhisit said.

The PAD plans to rally to oppose the government's proposed amendment to the Constitution which requires members of parliament to screen international treaties or agreements.

The first reading of the planned amendment passed Parliament and the draft is being reviewed by appointed scrutinising members. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-12-04

to be continued

Thailand Live Sunday 5 December 2010

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