Thaksin 'must Quit' By Sunday

[lung]

THAKSIN 'MUST QUIT' BY SUNDAY

Bangkok Post, agencies

The protest at Sanam Luang early today marched to the nearby Democracy Monument and demanded Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra "pack his belongings" and resign by next Sunday, March 5. The anti-Thaksin coalition called for mass demonstrations on Sunday, and called provincial people to join the weekend protest.

Protest leader Sondhi Limthongkul led around 10,000 people on a peaceful march to the historic monument, to recall the Oct 14, 1973 heroes in his anti-Thaksin campaign.

Members of the People’s Alliance for Democracy led the demonstrators to the monument and issued their ultimatum to Mr Thaksin after the opposition parties announced a total boycott of the April 2 election.

"Thaksin has five days left," Mr Sondhi shouted at a raucous but cheeful crowd. March 5 would be the last day for the premier. If he refused to resign, he would face the people's force, and Mr Sondhi called people from all over the country to come to Bangkok on Sunday for the protest.

The political developments came quickly, but not without planning. “We will move to the Democracy Monument peacefully," Mr Sondhi announced to the crowd around midnight on Monday. "We have already coordinated with metropolitan police, who guarantee safety for us. They will try to prevent ill-intentioned persons from infiltrating."

He demanded a promise from the crowd there would be no violence or vandalism "including burning the Government Lottery Office" nearby.

To persuade anti-government demonstrators in provincial areas to gather in Sanam Luang, he said, ASTV will cut its live Internet and cable feed of the rally for March 5.

"The government should be aware that people's force is not easily," said Mr Sondhi. "March 5 will be judgment day. We will move peacefully and orderly. We will show our intentions in good faith on March 6 to oust the premier by a peaceful and honest mean. We will give him 5 days to pack his belongings," said Mr. Sondhi.

The Sanam Luang protest gained a huge impetus when Mr Thaksin backhanded an opposition proposal for political reform and the three non-government parties who had MPs in the last parliament announced they will neither field candidates nor barnstorm in the election Mr Thaksin called for April 2.

The Democrat, Chart Thai and Maha Chon parties announced they will boycott the April 2 Lower House election, after Prime Minister Thaksin and his Thai Rak Thai party refused to agree to their demands on political reform.

"He was not sincere," said Ong-art Klampaiboon, spokesman for the Democrat Party. "It's too late now for him."

The three opposition parties wanted to meet with the Thai Rak Thai Party to initiate real political reforms, but Mr Thaksin on Monday afternoon said that all registered parties should join the talks, even those with no members of parliament in the dissolved Lower House.

"I agree in principle on the proposed political reform," Mr Thaksin told a press conference at the headquarters of his Thai Rak Thai Party.

But he immediately refused to sign a ratification with the three opposition parties with MPs, as the Democrats, Chart Thai and Maha Chon demanded.

The premier said he would allow participation of all the registered political parties and various sectors of society to participate in discussions of constitutional amendment. He promised an independent panel, which then would lead to a popular pact signed by all the parties concerned.

"A popular pact is more meaningful than the proposed four-party ratification," he said.

At that point, the leaders of the big three opposition parties announced they will boycott the entire April 2 election.

"The Chart Thai, Democrat and Maha Chon agreed unanimously that we will not field candidates in this election," Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters after a joint party meeting.

He spoke for all three parties, and he was flanked by the other two party leaders, Banharn Silpa-archa of Chart Thai and Maj-Gen Sanan Kachornprasert of Maha Chon. -

[moonoi]

THAKSIN 'MUST QUIT' BY SUNDAY

Bangkok Post, agencies

"The government should be aware that people's force is not easily," said Mr Sondhi. "March 5 will be judgment day. We will move peacefully and orderly. We will show our intentions in good faith on March 6 to oust the premier by a peaceful and honest mean. We will give him 5 days to pack his belongings," said Mr. Sondhi.

Oust the premier by a peaceful and honest mean? Does this mean that they will stand around government house and Thaksins residence singing "Kum by Ya" or the thai equivalent (annoying song I mean) until he can take no more and quits?

[Jai Dee]

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