Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Monday that he won't negotiate with the convicted former prime minister Thaksin shinawatra in a bid to end the political unrest in Thailand, Thai media said.
"The government will only talk with people who comply with the law not the people who instigate violence," the prime minister said.??
According to Thai News Agency's website, Abhisit told journalists that his government is moving ahead to reconcile different factions among the people based on righteousness.
When talking about the suggestion of negotiating with Thaksin, Abhisit ruled out the possibility, saying to wipe out the criminal court cases is "impossible and shouldn't be done."
By saying "criminal court cases", the prime minister meant Thaksin, ousted in September 2006 by a military coup, was sentenced in absentia in 2008 to two years in jail for abuse of power; and another arrest warrant for him was issued on April 14, accusing him of inciting violence during protests of his supporters earlier the month.
The protests led by the pro-Thaksin United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) had forced the cancellation of the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, which were scheduled to fall on April 10-12 in Thai resort town of Pattaya, when the red-shirted mob rushed into the summit venue on April 11.
Early morning on April 13, after Abhisit declared a state of emergency in Bangkok and 5 nearby provinces, the UDD protesters clashed with the security forces, leaving some one hundred injured. Two civilians died in the following conflicts in the capital city, which were brought to a halt by the surrender of the core UDD leaders on April 14. Before the surrender, Thaksin had been, through video link and telephone, repeatedly calling on his supporters to join the anti-government rally.
Regarding plans to hold a joint parliamentary session to allow members to suggest solutions to end the political impasse in Thailand, Abhisit said members could propose amendments to the constitution or law enforcement in the country, the Thai News Agency reported.
Political parties, including the opposition, must send their proposals for amending the constitution within two weeks so that a joint solution could be made, he said.
(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2009)
