29/03/2010
Bangkok Post
Red Shirt leaders were set to meet Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday for the second day of talks to press for elections following weeks of protests that have rocked Thailand's capital.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (R) walks with anti-government protest leader Veera Musikapong (L) prior to their meeting in Bangkok Sunday. Red Shirt leaders were set to meet Prime Minister Abhisit on Monday for the second day of talks to press for elections following weeks of protests that have rocked Thailand's capital.
A first round of negotiations -- carried live on television -- ended without resolution late Sunday after Abhisit refused to bow to demands from the protesters, who are loyal to fugitive deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
"House dissolution can only happen if we see it is not only the way out for the Reds but for the whole country also," Abhisit told three Red leaders in the three-hour meeting.
The Red Shirts, who draw their support mainly from the poor rural north of Thailand, accuse Abhisit's government of being undemocratic because it came to power on the back of a parliamentary vote after a controversial court ruling ousted Thaksin's allies from power.
On Sunday they told Abhisit he had two weeks to dissolve the house, but agreed to meet again Monday at 6:00pm (1100 GMT) to resume discussions.
Key dates: Thailand unrest Their populist political icon, former telecoms tycoon Thaksin, made one of his regular impassioned speeches by videolink following the talks, urging the rally of thousands to get behind the movement's leaders.
"Some say it was negative for the Reds because Abhisit is a good speaker but he lacks all sincerity," said Thaksin, who was ousted in a coup in 2006 and currently lives in Dubai to avoid a jail sentence for corruption.
"We have to unite, keep fighting and stay to help each other," he told them.
The Reds began rallying on March 14 after a court ruling seized 1.4 billion dollars of Thaksin's fortune.
Their demonstrations have peaked at the weekends, with 80,000 protesters joining the Bangkok rally on Saturday, forcing troops to retreat from security posts in the heart of the capital.
They have staged a series of dramatic stunts in their bid to force Abhisit to call snap elections, picketing the army barracks where he is holed up and throwing their own blood at his office gates.
The Reds say the British-born, Oxford-educated Abhisit is only able to lead his six-party coalition with military backing.
Abhisit had ruled out talks while the protesters remained on the streets, but made an about-face on Sunday, a move analysts said might hint at a weakening of his support.
"How united is the military in bolstering Abhisit? Could this be why he is meekly agreeing to negotiations?" said Thailand analyst Paul Chambers of Germany's Heidelberg University. "One wonders what he has to gain from it."
While the demonstrations have passed peacefully, security forces have taken few chances, putting a 50,000-strong force on the streets and using a strict security law to police the rallies.
The capital was hit late Sunday by the latest in a series of explosions at politically significant sites and army buildings.
A woman was injured by the grenade attack at the home of ex-prime minister Banharn Silpa-archa, police said.
A dozen people were hurt over the weekend when grenades were lobbed at the gate of the barracks where Abhisit has been living and working during the protests.
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