Premier rejects PAD demand that he resign

By The Nation

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has poured cold water on demands for his exit, while the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has upped the ante by threatening to march if he refuses to step down by Friday.

PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang yesterday refused to disclose the destination of the yellow-shirt march, though the date will coincide with the parliamentary vote on charter amendments.

"I am utterly surprised why the PAD wants to oust me when my government has opposed the listing of Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site and refused to accept the 1:200,000 scale map on the Thai-Cambodian boundary," the prime minister said in reference to the PAD's concern that territory is being lost to Cambodia.

Abhisit called on the PAD to talk with him in order to safeguard the country's territory instead of airing one-sided views on the border dispute.

He said government representatives were trying to reason with the PAD leaders but both sides remained too far apart to sit down and negotiate.

He said he could not understand why the PAD leaders refused to talk things out with him or to listen to his side of the story.

"Instead of talks, the PAD leaders are churning out vile attacks, some of which are outright lies," he said.

PAD spokesman Panthep Pourpongpan said rally organisers plan to announce the destination of their march on Friday morning right before starting the procession from their Makawan Bridge rally site.

Democrat Party spokesman Buranat Samudtharak said all sides should rally behind the government in the face of the border dispute.

Buranaj said the PAD made an unreasonable demand by calling for Abhisit's exit without naming his replacement.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said Friday's border skirmish with Cambodia was a regretable incident to both Thailand and Cambodia.

Prompong blamed Abhisit and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya for failing to ensure good neighbourly ties with Cambodia. The two should resign for their lapse of performance; there's a number of coalition politicians who can replace them, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-02-07

with Abi on this one ..recon Chammis lost the plot....

Suchinda is long gone...

''while the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has upped the ante by threatening to march if he refuses to step down by Friday.''

Mark must be quaking in his sandals........

Imagine Mark begging PAD for talks and negotiation...

PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang yesterday refused to disclose the destination of the yellow-shirt march

why not march to the border, pick up a tin hat and rifle and off you go

reclaim the land yourselves..........

Typical of Thai "democracy". Forget the law. We want what we want and if we don't get it we'll throw a temper tantrum. How about if the PAD works though the elected governmental system instead?

15 million Thais voted for Abhisit last time - more will next time - but he should forget them and follow the demands of 1000 old granny's who follow Chamlong around like puppies lol

PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang yesterday refused to disclose the destination of the yellow-shirt march

why not march to the border, pick up a tin hat and rifle and off you go

reclaim the land yourselves..........

What a sensible suggestion!! If they care about it so much why don't they head to the "thick of the action" rather than bleating about it like spoilt children. Besides, Abhisit is addressing their concerns in a sensible way ie: considering the complexity of, and difficulties entailed in resolving the situation he is standing strong for the Thai people. In addition to this - according to Abhisit they are fighting in the same corner/singing from the same hymn sheet (choose either) with the only difference being that his approach is reasonable and calculated whereas the PAD's is overtly OTT and too gung ho to help matters in any way. It could be argued that their unwelcome involvement has further inflamed the situation, with "the famous seven's" encroachment onto disputed land acting as the initial catalyst for this serious spat between the two neighbouring countries.

Abhisit is calm in a crisis. We should all be grateful for that. Who keeps creating the crisis's? We all know the answer to that as well.

PAD like PTP and REDS - all lost the plot - let the Govt do its things - the PM has not backed down and PAD like REDS are refusing to talk - tread lightly boys - next the Army will hose you off the streets amongst a few deaduns and then we are all back to square one. Is this history repeating itself?