Thai PM meets 'red shirt' protesters
Monday, 29 March 2010
Thailand's prime minister has opened negotiations with a protest movement calling for the government to step down and 'restore peace', reports Aljazeera.
Abhisit Vejjajiva agreed to meet leaders of the so-called red shirts' on Sunday for talks that were broadcast live on national television.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators have been on the streets of Bangkok, the capital, for two weeks, demanding that Abhisit call fresh elections.
But the Thai prime minister told the three-member panel from the protesters that the government would not step down.
"I have to make a decision based on a consensus from the entire country, including the red shirts," he said. "We have to think: Will dissolution really solve the problem?"
Weng Tojirakarn, one of the red shirts representatives, said: "This is not likely to take long because the atmosphere is good. Everyone is acting in good faith for the benefit of the country."
Abhisit arrived at the venue, a Bangkok educational institute, along with two of his senior staff, and shook hands with his red-clad opponents as they sat down at the meeting table.
Al Jazeera's Aela Callan, reporting from Bangkok, said: "Abhisit is using the opportunity to show off his debating skills and the red shirts have told their protesters to expect good news and that they will come out victorious.
"Veera [Musikapong], the red shirts leader, has been saying that they feel the same as Abhisit; that they don't want to be negative, and don't want to hurt anyone, but they do want to solve many of Thailand's problems.
Abhisit Vejjajiva agreed to meet leaders of the so-called red shirts' on Sunday for talks that were broadcast live on national television.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators have been on the streets of Bangkok, the capital, for two weeks, demanding that Abhisit call fresh elections.
But the Thai prime minister told the three-member panel from the protesters that the government would not step down.
"I have to make a decision based on a consensus from the entire country, including the red shirts," he said. "We have to think: Will dissolution really solve the problem?"
Weng Tojirakarn, one of the red shirts representatives, said: "This is not likely to take long because the atmosphere is good. Everyone is acting in good faith for the benefit of the country."
Abhisit arrived at the venue, a Bangkok educational institute, along with two of his senior staff, and shook hands with his red-clad opponents as they sat down at the meeting table.
Al Jazeera's Aela Callan, reporting from Bangkok, said: "Abhisit is using the opportunity to show off his debating skills and the red shirts have told their protesters to expect good news and that they will come out victorious.
"Veera [Musikapong], the red shirts leader, has been saying that they feel the same as Abhisit; that they don't want to be negative, and don't want to hurt anyone, but they do want to solve many of Thailand's problems.