Thaksin Asks To Meet Sondhi!

[penzman]

I have seen the press conference a few times now today on ASTV and my wife did confirm that the press conference was for Shondhi to announce that Thaksin has asked to meet him in private. He did ask for Sondhi not to come "charging like a tiger". Sondhi has accepted as long as it is done publicly on television , not in private as was requested by Thaksin as what Sondhi is fighting for concerns the whole population.

He also insisted on the fact that he still intends to hold the next rally on the plaza again on Feb 11th.

Thaksin, his brother and the Thai Rak Thai party have also used the plaza before.

The press conference has also been shown on MCOT.

Khun Sarayut was also just discussing this on his evening MCOT tv show.

I have searched for a news article but none can be found yet on Post, Nation, manager.co.th. and others.

I'll post the article as soon as I find one, feel free to do so if you beat me to it!

[womble]

Not sure about that, but we were flicking through channels and caught the end of a news story on mcot. My gf says that it said the government or at least some of them have been called for a meeting tomorow, at the palace I believe. I'm not exactly sure of the details as we caught the end of the story, maybe someone else saw the whole of the story.

[penzman]

Yes, that was just announced a few minutes ago.

HMK has apparently called for what my wife translated as "extra-ordinary meeting of congress"

[Jai Dee]

Sondhi says he is eager to meet PM Thaksin on a televised debate

The founder of Manager Newspaper Sondhi Limthongkul (สนธิ ลิ้มทองกุล) has made clear that he would like to meet Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to clarify all the matter but the meeting between both of them must be in public venue.

He added that the best way is to meet at any TV station and should also be broadcast to the general public where both of them will answer every posed question.

Mr. Sondhi stated that he is willing to listen to every bit of fact from the premier and will discontinue the protest against the government, saying the premier can pick any TV station, any date and any time as the premier thinks it is convenient.

As for the gathering planned on the 11th of February, the popular activist said he will not lead the protest since he had earlier announced that he would only be leading the protest on the 4th of February.

According to Mr Sondhi, the demonstration on the 11th will be led by the alliance and he will only be a small part of the protest.

However, the protestors insist to continue the rally at the Royal Plaza since it is not against any regulations.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 08 Febuary 2006

[LaoPo]

Yes, that was just announced a few minutes ago.

HMK has apparently called for what my wife translated as "extra-ordinary meeting of congress"

If it's true it is very interesting and shows the wisdom of HMK.

I don't know but assume this will take place before any meeting between TS and Shondi, either private or on Television...what do you think?

LaoPo

[penzman]

Government softens stance, allows anti-Thaksin rally at Royal Plaza

BANGKOK, Feb 8 (TNA) -

The government has softened its stance, announced on Wednesday that it would allow the next-round of anti-Thaksin demonstration to be organized at the Royal Plaza if the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Metropolitan Police Division give the green light.

Government Spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said if the two agencies which oversee metropolitan areas allow the demonstration to take place at the Royal Plaza, the government would have no objection.

"Any demonstration at the Royal Plaza in which loud speakers are used is required to ask for a permission from the BMA and the Metropolitan Police Division, as the area is in the compound of two Royal Palace--the Dusit and Amporn Palaces," he noted.

Asked why the government changes its stance, as Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra earlier vowed that the government would no longer allow such the demonstration to be organized at the Royal Plaza--after the previous one on February 4, Dr. Surapong said the government earlier wanted the rally to take place at other places considered more suitable, like Sanam Luang, but later learned that there would be events and exhibitions marking the Makha Bucha Day during the period.

Dr. Surapong's remarks followed a confirmation by media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul, who led the anti-Thaksin rally at the Royal Plaza last Saturday, that the next rally would be carried on at the Royal Plaza on February 11 as planned.

He said, however, that the alliance for democracy would lead the next rally, not him, adding that he would certainly attend the rally as a "participant".

Mr. Sondhi said as well that he is ready to meet the prime minister at any public place or on a TV programme and wants the prime minister to clear himself with questions he would raise.

The prime minister wants Mr. Sondhi to meet him at the Government House, according to Dr. Surapong.(TNA)--

[womble]

I would say almost certainly that there will be no Rally this weekend. I'm no expert on political matters here but I would say the risk of violence increases every time one of these rallies os held, and no one wants that, so the sooner this is all sorted out the sooner the country gets back on track.

Of course this is speculation, but I see two possible outcomes (although there could of course be many more)

1.) A snap election (which taksin will win and prove he still has a mandate).

2.) a re-write of parts of the constitution but thaksin staying as leader.

[bulmercke]

I would say almost certainly that there will be no Rally this weekend. I'm no expert on political matters here but I would say the risk of violence increases every time one of these rallies os held, and no one wants that, so the sooner this is all sorted out the sooner the country gets back on track.

Of course this is speculation, but I see two possible outcomes (although there could of course be many more)

1.) A snap election (which taksin will win and prove he still has a mandate).

2.) a re-write of parts of the constitution but thaksin staying as leader.

Neither outcome is likely.....for Sondhi and his supporters will settle for nothing less than Thaksin's

ouster....be it by civil means or other! Thaksin is definitely rattled by Sondhi, despite the government's protestations to the contrary. Almost certainly, Thaksin is going to try to do a deal with Sondhi, and lay this whole unfortunate matter of civil disobedience to rest, once and for all.

But, personally, I don't think a settlement to this situation will be that easy. For every one protester that turns up at the Royal Plaza, I honestly think that there are a hundred or more who don't attend, for whatever reason, and Thaksin knows this!Sondhi is NOW definitely a force to be reckoned with.

Edited February 8, 2006 by penzman