People's council not possible: PM Yingluck

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POLITICS
People's council not possible: PM
The Nation



Yingluck calls for end to siege of govt offices, ready to talk to protest leader; protesters plan more marches today

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday rejected the anti-government protesters' demand for a "people's council", saying it was "not possible".

This is the first time that she has publicly responded to demands raised by key protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.

"The government is happy to listen to requests from all groups, but this request for a 'people's council' cannot be implemented under the current Constitution," Yingluck said yesterday.

However, opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva insisted his party is determined to go all out to overthrow the "Thaksin regime", saying the government had lost legitimacy. He said the Democrats are ready to support popular movements conducted within constitutional limits.

Suthep has announced that the protesters' ultimate goal is to end the "Thaksin regime" and replace it with a "people's council".

In her national address on television at 1.50pm yesterday, Yingluck called on the protesters to stop rallying at government offices and participate in a government-initiated forum.

She reiterated that her government was democratically elected and has been using peaceful means to deal with the protesters. She also said that she would be happy to speak in person to the protest leader. Early yesterday, she told the press that dissolving the House was not an option.

"Everybody knows about the protesters' stance, and there must be other methods of protests rather than rallying, closing government agencies and other symbolic steps they have taken. I'd like to ask for cooperation and my government affirms that a forum would be the best solution," she said.

Meanwhile, pressure is mounting as anti-government protesters cut water and power supply at the Royal Thai Police headquarters, including the nearby Office of Police Forensic Science in the compound of Police General Hospital, yesterday afternoon as part of their campaign to end the so-called Thaksin regime.

The cutting off of utilities to Office of Police Forensic Science prompted Pol Maj-General Piya Uthayo, spokesman for the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order, to urge the protesters to have mercy on the sick.

National Human Rights Commissioner Parinya Sirisarakarn also condemned this action, saying that it was a serious human-rights violation, though she said this might have been carried out by an ill-intentioned third party to cause chaos.

At 2.10pm yesterday, Piya told the press that the police headquarters and the hospital had to rely on reserve power supply, which was limited, adding that the protesters should empathise with the patients. He said the police had made preparations to evacuate the 400 patients, especially the dozen or so critically ill ones, but hoped they would not have to resort to that.

Power restored

He also warned that police had photographs of those who had cut the power line on Henri Dunant Road. At the time of going to the press, it was reported that power had been restored at the hospital, while the other two sites continued to use reserve power.

The protests, meanwhile, continued unabated outside the police headquarters and the nearby Chalermpao and Ratchaprasong intersections.

Separately, former Democrat MP Thaworn Senneam said the protesters would leave their key rally site at Democracy Monument tomorrow and return to mark His Majesty the King's birthday. He said the rallies at Government Complex and the Finance Ministry would continue. Thaworn is one of the core leaders of the Civil Movement for Democracy (CMD).

However, Satit Wongnongtaey, another CMD leader who is based at Democracy Monument, said the rallies at the three venues will continue uninterrupted. The CMD is expected to march to Pheu Thai Party headquarters on Phetchaburi Road today.

The Students and People's Network for Thailand's Reform, whose key rally site is Nang Lerng, will head for an undisclosed venue today, its leader said.

So far, anti-government protests are being held at five venues - Democracy Monument. Nang Lerng intersection, Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge, the Finance Ministry and Government Complex.

In a separate incident, three anti-government protesters in Pathum Thani were attacked and injured by red-shirt supporters yesterday as they were on their way to rally at the city hall.


-- The Nation 2013-11-29

[bigbamboo]

KY is right about a people's council not being possible. There would have to be a change of constitution and her party would never want that.

She has assured us that it is her government not her brother's and corruption, like gambling and prostitution, no longer happen in here. And if you can't trust a politician then who can you trust?

[NongKhaiKid]

I'm surprised she's still here. Didn't some of the Shin family head to London last week ?

[Ricardo]

Of course a people's council is not possible !

It would be too much like the one-party unity-government, which her brother proposed in the 'good old days' !

So he owns the copyright, in his own mind at least, to anything similar.

Remember after all that 'Democracy is not Our Aim !"

[doremifasol]

She looks pissed indeed.

[Loles]

Yes this is true, it is impossible and a big step to back to the dictatorship.

But I'm bagging.

The idiot brother's coming home. is this possible ???

[Thait Spot]

Now there's a photo worthy of a caption competition.

"The dummy spits out"

[PeterSmiles]

but this request for a 'people's council' cannot be implemented under the current Constitution," Yingluck said yesterday.

As if she gives a damn about the current constitution.

Isn't it also in the current constitution that she has to adhere to verdicts issued by the Constitutional court ?

[anon467367354]

I thought the power to the hospital was never affected? - "The move also hit the forensic department of a hospital next door although the main facility was unaffected, the hospital director said."

So what's with the spin used in the article above? "the hospital had to rely on reserve power supply, which was limited, adding that the protesters should empathise with the patients."

No patients were affected, it's nothing but more lies.

[Yunla]

The People's Council is a complete non-subject. It would be an admission that Democracy is not possible here, it would be a complete surrender of the (admittedly small) democratic gains that have been made over the decades. Far better is to do the opposite, to start playing the Democracy game using the actual basic rules of that game. For example if you are playing Chess, it would be against the game rules to suddenly grab your opponent's Queen and Knights and throw them out of the window. Changing the rules of the game mid-match is an admission of failure and also desperation.

Edited November 29, 2013 by Yunla

[tingtongteesood]

Spin SPIN SPIN !!!! She should be falling over dizzy the amount of spin doctoring that is going on here. Why let the truth get in the way of a good lie....?

[ratcatcher]

She looks pissed indeed.

You should see her when she's sober!

[Artisi]

She looks pissed indeed.

But not from too much booze.

[Robby nz]

The cutting off of utilities to Office of Police Forensic Science prompted Pol Maj-General Piya Uthayo, spokesman for the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order, to urge the protesters to have mercy on the sick.

Had to laugh at that one.

Does the General not realize that a forensic department deals with the dead and not the sick.

[Benmart]

She looks pissed indeed.

Juvenile and tasteless.

[Ricardo]

Now there's a photo worthy of a caption competition.

"The dummy spits out"

Why not ?

"My Brother Went To Dubai, and Didn't Even Buy Me a Red T-Shirt !"

"But He Originally Said, It Would All Be Over, Within Six Months !"

"I'm Missing That Film ... 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' !"

"They Won't Even Give Me My Own Private-Jet, Either !"

[jdinasia]

Apparently Yingluck has never heard of Otto von Bismark