Thai Army chief denies meeting protest leader

[webfact]

Army chief denies meeting protest leader

BANGKOK: -- Army commander-in-chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said he has not yet accepted the invitation of protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban for a meeting today.

Post Today quoted INN News Agency as reported that the army chief told INN in a brief interview that he has not yet accepted the invitation to the meeting today as claimed by Mr Suthep.

The army chief said that the matter needed to have prior consultation with commanders-in-chief of other forces and also has not reported this to the prime minister and defense minister as he had no authority.

But he said that the Army must stay neutral and would not be pulled into the middle of the conflict.

He said that everything could be resolved through justice.

He considered the present conflict was significant and unlike the previous conflicts.

He said if the Thai people chose to resolve the conflict through the exchanging of words, it would never end on one side.

He reminded the protesters that even though there is hatred among them, they are the same Thai people.

Meanwhile an Army spokesperson Col Winthai Suwari said there was no information so far that the army chief has gladly accepted to meet the protest leader.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/army-chief-denies-meeting-protest-leader/


-- Thai PBS 2013-12-12

[rijb]

Suthep should have waited for the RSVP.

Confucius say… "Man who shoot off mouth, expect to lose face. "

[macgver]

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Military-and-police-chiefs-agree-to-meet-Suthep-30221880.html

Only one newspaper (The Nation) claimed that the top military commanders and police chief agreed meeting Suthep but other news is denied the meeting. Therefore which newspaper is correct and false.

[chainarong]

Regardless of whether a meeting took place , there would be little to gain by pulling any more stunts, Suthep needs to settle down and let the momentum take care of it's self, there are systems in place , use them , a peoples parliament sounds fishy, the opposition parties should be concerned at the behaviour of Suthep , seems like success has gone to he's head.

[NCFC]

The other paper reports the military have turned down the offer of meeting Suthep as not wanting to be seen as taking sides. If that is the case this may be the beginning of the end for him.

[webfact]

Thai army chief gives no reply on talks with protesters
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 12 – Thai army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said today the armed forces have yet to respond to anti-government protesters’ call for a dialogue, stressing their political neutrality.

He referred to the request by protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban to hold talks with top military and police brass to elaborate the protesters’ principles on political reform and seek their recommendations.

Mr Suthep, secretary general of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), set 8 pm today as the deadline for the response.

Gen Prayuth said he has yet to discuss with leaders of the armed forces and report to Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in her capacity as caretaker defence minister.

He said he was not empowered to make the decision and protesters should avoid pushing the armed forces into the middle of the current conflicts.

“Justice is the most significant factor in solving the problems,” he said.

He admitted that the current conflict is the biggest in Thailand’s history and it will not end if different factions continue retaliating to each other.

Protesters under the Students and People Network for Thailand’s Reform, a grouping in the PDRC, have cut barbed wires surrounding Government House this morning.

They later cut electricity and water supply to state offices after their one-hour deadline for police to leave the compound has not been responded.

Fire crackers were hurled onto the ground while police forces remained guarding the property. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-12-12

[terryp]

The stupidity of this man is horrendous, not only does he not like the smell of one of Thailand most popular meals (Kapow Gai ,so no one is allowed to eat it) ..he constantly barks orders to reporters and now he does not want to move the Country forward!!!!..................he clearly knows who his desert master is

[bangkokheat]

judging by the look on his face he looks like hes going to pull a rabbit out of his a&$e

[EricBerg]

There will be no coup. Suthep's history. Now prepare for the elections in february. Tell the voters what you will do when you can be the government. Fight the other side with facts. More than enough to hurt them with: amnesty bill, rice scheme disaster, the two trillion borrowing plan, corruption. Start working. Go to the red shirt provinces too and talk WITH people.

[Loles]

This means there are many normally officer in TH whose don't miss at all company of suthep.

SOM NAM NA suthep, you are very small and pitiful. this was a very nice dream for you to take the army chief's nose. this is utopian like your people council

Edited December 12, 2013 by Loles

[webfact]

POLITICS
I'm not empowered to decide on meeting with PDRC : Army chief

BANGKOK: -- Army Commander in Chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said Thursday the military have yet to respond to anti-government protesters' call for a talk, stressing their political neutrality.

He was referring to the request by protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban to hold talks with top military and police chiefs to elaborate the protesters' principles on political reform and seek their recommendations.

Suthep, secretary general of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), had sought 8pm today as the deadline for the response.

Gen Prayuth said he has yet to discuss with leaders of the armed forces and report to Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in her capacity as caretaker defence minister.

He said he was not empowered to make the decision and protesters should avoid pushing the armed forces into the middle of the current conflicts.

"Justice is the most significant factor in solving the problems," he said. He admitted that the current conflict is the biggest in Thailand's history and it will not end if different factions continue retaliating to each other.


-- The Nation 2013-12-12

[terryp]

but he would be falling over himself if Thaksin ( a runaway felon) commanded an audience

[Boxclever]

So the military's response to Suthep's DEMAND for a meeting was.

#$@& OFF!!.....priceless

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

A crying minister of defense and an army chief not empowered to decide on meetings. God help us all if Cambodia attacks.

[jimbeam1]

Gen Prayuth said he has yet to discuss with leaders of the armed forces and report to Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in her capacity as caretaker defence minister.

He said he was not empowered to make the decision and protesters should avoid pushing the armed forces into the middle of the current conflicts.

I would be very careful if I was you Mr Suthep. As the end could be neigh.

jb1

[FangFerang]

"He admitted that the current conflict is the biggest in Thailand’s history and it will not end if different factions continue retaliating to each other."

Someone spoke the truth, a very dangerous thing to do. I am hoping this is not a smoke screen.

It seems that the situation at Government House will get out of hand rather quickly, since electricity and water has been cut to the building, with no police or military intervention from outside the compound. In the picture is a fully equipped soldier, but no one seems to have prevented the power or water from being cut. And in broad daylight! Hmmm.

Too many unanswered questions amidst the rhetoric being spewed about like a coughing diner with a mouthful of phad thai. "We seek justice. We are neutral. We are all Thais. We are elected."

Worst "They said if the police remained stubborn, they would lock the police inside which now has all water supply and electricity cut." Now it is wrongful imprisonment, kidnapping, and extortion in the name of being freedom fighters. Thank the Lord Buddha the demonstrators are lawful, unlike those thug Reddies.

I think this is Suthep forcing the police and military hands to act. This is retaliation for disobeying Dear Leader's commands to meet with him. And the whole world knows it. I am a ex-pat reporter in a foreign land, with great respect for people's autonomy. We are all entitled, as individuals and countries, to make both our own mistakes and good decisions. But do not try to force feed excrement down my throat. You can try it, of course, but it will come back at you as a projectile stream.

What rubbish. Ladies and gentleman, picking sides in this family argument is like betting on cricket. I just hope they get a grip on their egos, on both sides.

Edited December 12, 2013 by FangFerang

[Old Man River]

There will be no coup. Suthep's history. Now prepare for the elections in february. Tell the voters what you will do when you can be the government. Fight the other side with facts. More than enough to hurt them with: amnesty bill, rice scheme disaster, the two trillion borrowing plan, corruption. Start working. Go to the red shirt provinces too and talk WITH people.

There will be no coup.

Suthep will not be PM.

We agree on the this. Forget the rest. Abhisit and others have been physically attacked when going to the RS provinces trying to do what you suggest.

[Zolt]

There will be no coup.

Suthep will not be PM.

We agree on the this. Forget the rest. Abhisit and others have been physically attacked when going to the RS provinces trying to do what you suggest.

Their own fault for consistently pissing on these people from a great height. Makes it that much harder when they try to win votes in that area.

[Xonax]

There will be no coup. Suthep's history. Now prepare for the elections in february. Tell the voters what you will do when you can be the government. Fight the other side with facts. More than enough to hurt them with: amnesty bill, rice scheme disaster, the two trillion borrowing plan, corruption. Start working. Go to the red shirt provinces too and talk WITH people.

The Democrats have previously tried to go to red shirt villages for campaigning, but were beaten up by the red shirts. The chiefs of the villages are obviously being paid to keep them out. So much for democracy in red shirt territory.

[Robby nz]

Their own fault for consistently pissing on these people from a great height. Makes it that much harder when they try to win votes in that area.

This red poster dosent seem to realize that in the brief time the Dems were in power they had a rice farmers support scheme in place that gave money directly to the farmers thereby cutting out the middle man and most of the corruption.

If I remember correctly the farmers were given a total of 60 billion bath in that time.

Not enough to break the country as per the present scheme but enough to help the poor farmers

I understand that farmers have admitted they were better off under that scheme.

They also raised the age of free education and put in place education reforms, reforms which were promptly dumped as soon a PT took office, dumped in place of tablets and where the few that were given out now are nobody knows.

The reason the Dems cant campaign in red strongholds is not that the people don't want them there it is because the red leaders (thugs) do not need the truth being told.

Even where the Dems can safely go the reds have in the past tried to disrupt, intimidate and prevent people attending their meetings.

If you don't believe that, then for your education, I can post photos that I took of just that happening.

[EricBerg]

There will be no coup. Suthep's history. Now prepare for the elections in february. Tell the voters what you will do when you can be the government. Fight the other side with facts. More than enough to hurt them with: amnesty bill, rice scheme disaster, the two trillion borrowing plan, corruption. Start working. Go to the red shirt provinces too and talk WITH people.

The Democrats have previously tried to go to red shirt villages for campaigning, but were beaten up by the red shirts. The chiefs of the villages are obviously being paid to keep them out. So much for democracy in red shirt territory.

Now is different. There were protests in red shirt provinces too. No fightings there. Many red shirts have doubts since the amnesty bill...

[Old Man River]

There will be no coup.

Suthep will not be PM.

We agree on the this. Forget the rest. Abhisit and others have been physically attacked when going to the RS provinces trying to do what you suggest.

Their own fault for consistently pissing on these people from a great height. Makes it that much harder when they try to win votes in that area.

What is the difference between a coup and what you favor? Either way democratic rights are stripped away.

[metisdead]

Posts using red colored all caps have been removed. Turn off your Caps Lock button and use black color when posting, from the forum rules:

Posting in all capitals or in all bold, and using large or unusual fonts and colors is bad netiquette.

[MobileContent]

There will be no coup. Suthep's history. Now prepare for the elections in february. Tell the voters what you will do when you can be the government. Fight the other side with facts. More than enough to hurt them with: amnesty bill, rice scheme disaster, the two trillion borrowing plan, corruption. Start working. Go to the red shirt provinces too and talk WITH people.

There will be no coup.

Suthep will not be PM.

We agree on the this. Forget the rest. Abhisit and others have been physically attacked when going to the RS provinces trying to do what you suggest.

Do you think if the PTP comes to Surat Thani or other Democrats strongholds it is different. If Yingluck would have ordered to shoot a 100 protesters two weeks ago do you think Yingluck would not be attacked.

That's why we need election observers in every province.

Let the next election be clean and fair.

[MobileContent]

There will be no coup. Suthep's history. Now prepare for the elections in february. Tell the voters what you will do when you can be the government. Fight the other side with facts. More than enough to hurt them with: amnesty bill, rice scheme disaster, the two trillion borrowing plan, corruption. Start working. Go to the red shirt provinces too and talk WITH people.

The Democrats have previously tried to go to red shirt villages for campaigning, but were beaten up by the red shirts. The chiefs of the villages are obviously being paid to keep them out. So much for democracy in red shirt territory.

Now is different. There were protests in red shirt provinces too. No fightings there. Many red shirts have doubts since the amnesty bill...

Yes you are spot on. Many reds don't want amnesty they want Suthep and Abhisit to be pushed what they did. Not so much about Abhisit but more about Suthep as he was in charge of security.

[Emptyset]

There will be no coup. Suthep's history. Now prepare for the elections in february. Tell the voters what you will do when you can be the government. Fight the other side with facts. More than enough to hurt them with: amnesty bill, rice scheme disaster, the two trillion borrowing plan, corruption. Start working. Go to the red shirt provinces too and talk WITH people.

The Democrats have previously tried to go to red shirt villages for campaigning, but were beaten up by the red shirts. The chiefs of the villages are obviously being paid to keep them out. So much for democracy in red shirt territory.

So what happens to red shirt groups in the South? (rhetorical question).

[Old Man River]

There will be no coup. Suthep's history. Now prepare for the elections in february. Tell the voters what you will do when you can be the government. Fight the other side with facts. More than enough to hurt them with: amnesty bill, rice scheme disaster, the two trillion borrowing plan, corruption. Start working. Go to the red shirt provinces too and talk WITH people.

There will be no coup.

Suthep will not be PM.

We agree on the this. Forget the rest. Abhisit and others have been physically attacked when going to the RS provinces trying to do what you suggest.

Do you think if the PTP comes to Surat Thani or other Democrats strongholds it is different. If Yingluck would have ordered to shoot a 100 protesters two weeks ago do you think Yingluck would not be attacked.

That's why we need election observers in every province.

Let the next election be clean and fair.

I have talked to some of the ANFREL (ANFREL.org) people in the past and they desperately try to keep elections free and fair (they have many observers), but all they can do is observe and report.

[Carrerakiss]

There will be no coup.

Suthep will not be PM.

We agree on the this. Forget the rest. Abhisit and others have been physically attacked when going to the RS provinces trying to do what you suggest.

Their own fault for consistently pissing on these people from a great height. Makes it that much harder when they try to win votes in that area.

What is the difference between a coup and what you favor? Either way democratic rights are stripped away.

Thai people don't want democracy, if they did, they would be willing to listen to what all parties say, not just the one the supposedly support.

I was in Phuket yesterday, am in Udon now. The people are different, the countryside is different. Clearly what we need is two governments, a Democrat government for the south, so that they can corruptly obtain as much lucre from Southerners, a PTP government in the north so that they can corruptly obtain as much lucre from Northerners. Both sets of politicians happy, both sets of supporters happy., Bangkok back to normal. Military to patrol central Thailand as a buffer zone. One country, two systems. Seems to work for the Chinese.

Ok, ok, I'm joking in a most cynical and sarcastic fashion. But jeez, as I write it, it all makes a lot of sense......

[Old Man River]

There will be no coup.

Suthep will not be PM.

We agree on the this. Forget the rest. Abhisit and others have been physically attacked when going to the RS provinces trying to do what you suggest.

Their own fault for consistently pissing on these people from a great height. Makes it that much harder when they try to win votes in that area.

What is the difference between a coup and what you favor? Either way democratic rights are stripped away.

Thai people don't want democracy, if they did, they would be willing to listen to what all parties say, not just the one the supposedly support.

I was in Phuket yesterday, am in Udon now. The people are different, the countryside is different. Clearly what we need is two governments, a Democrat government for the south, so that they can corruptly obtain as much lucre from Southerners, a PTP government in the north so that they can corruptly obtain as much lucre from Northerners. Both sets of politicians happy, both sets of supporters happy., Bangkok back to normal. Military to patrol central Thailand as a buffer zone. One country, two systems. Seems to work for the Chinese.

Ok, ok, I'm joking in a most cynical and sarcastic fashion. But jeez, as I write it, it all makes a lot of sense......

Actually, Thaksin did have a plan for Central Thailand (ok, just the airport part). You may remember it. It was to be the area of the airport, Samut Prakarn and Prawet. This was just before the coup. It was an economic zone, separate from Bangkok and the rest of Thailand and he and some others would run it for 8 years, and after that they would hold elections. Elected officials in Samut Prakarn and Prawet would lose their jobs.

I am sure, in time he would have adopted your proposal, only he would, of course, kept control.

[whybother]

There will be no coup.

Suthep will not be PM.

We agree on the this. Forget the rest. Abhisit and others have been physically attacked when going to the RS provinces trying to do what you suggest.

Their own fault for consistently pissing on these people from a great height. Makes it that much harder when they try to win votes in that area.

Yay for red democracy. I'm not sure what is democratic about physically attacking politicians who are campaigning.