Beachlover
May 13th, 2010, 10:29
Shite... it's going backwards in a big way now.
http://bangkokpost.com/news/thaksin-jud ... tion-offer (http://bangkokpost.com/news/thaksin-judgement-update/37211/govt-revokes-election-offer)
Govt revokes election offer
Troops, APCs sent to seal off rally site, says source
The government has abruptly cancelled its offer to hold a general election on Nov 14 after red shirt protesters refused to call off their rally at Ratchaprasong.
As the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) is showing no signs of complying with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's demand to end the rally, the government has responded by dropping its offer to dissolve the House between Sept 15-30 and call an election on Nov 14, Korbsak Sabhavasu, the prime minister's secretary-general said yesterday.
Mr Korbsak said the red shirt co-leaders had initially agreed to the reconciliation proposal. But then they had been unable to reach a common resolution on whether to accept the plan and also pressed additional demands, which complicated and eventually foiled the negotiations with the government.
"It is fitting then that the premier has rescinded the offer to hold an early poll as the red shirts have refused to disperse," he said.
The red shirt bosses had promised to end their rally as soon as Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban turned himself into police to face charges related to the April 10 clashes, which left 25 people dead.
UDD leaders said Mr Suthep's surrender to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) was not good enough and demanded he instead report to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD).
They said Mr Suthep had only appeared at the DSI to acknowledge the complaint filed against him by relatives of those killed and injured in the April 10 clashes, not to report to authorities as a suspect and be charged.
"Mr Suthep should bow to our condition and turn himself in to police as a suspect. After that we can all go home and prepare for elections," said red shirt co-leader Korkaew Pikulthong.
Families of red shirt victims were accompanied to the CSD yesterday by a close aide of former senator Pratheep Ungsongtham Hata yesterday. CSD deputy chief Col Sanit Mahathaworn said the investigators accepted their complaint for consideration.
Red shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan yesterday said the poll date would be useless as long as Mr Suthep did not enter the justice system.
"What is the election for when the guilty one still walks free. The protest will not end as long as justice is not delivered," he said.
Army chief Anupong Paojinda yesterday approved "Operation Ratchaprasong" involving 32,000 troops and 120 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) to seal off the rally site, an army source said.
The source said the operation will cut off food and water supplies to the protest area and stop rally-goers from leaving and entering.
All 120 APCs were scheduled to leave Saraburi last night.
Gen Anupong and army top brass met all day to discuss the plan to completely seal off Ratchaprasong. The use of force had not been brought up yet, said the source.
Despite the army plan said to be in the works, the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) yesterday postponed cutting off water and power supplies to the Ratchaprasong area.
CRES spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd made the announcement about the cut-off in the morning only to retract it in the evening, saying details would have to be worked out and the impact on those in the neighbourhood assessed.
Besides shopping arcades and hotels, there are two hospitals, several schools and embassies, commercial and residential establishments in the area.
The U-turn followed an uproar from those living nearby and warnings by water and power agency labour union leaders who feared the cut-off would hurt everyone but the protesters.An engineer at the Metropolitan Electricity Authority said shutting down the power would disrupt a wide area, covering not only Ratchaprasong but also buildings and residences on Sathon, Silom, Asok and Rama IV roads.
"It would have a major impact if the government really wants to cut the power. Residential buildings and hospitals would be in serious trouble if we went ahead," he said.
The UDD was not deterred by the CRES threat. Red shirt leaders said they have their own power generators which would work immediately after power supplies were cut. They also use water from fire hydrants connected to the water pipeline accessed by embassies, hospitals and schools in the area.
http://bangkokpost.com/news/thaksin-jud ... tion-offer (http://bangkokpost.com/news/thaksin-judgement-update/37211/govt-revokes-election-offer)
Govt revokes election offer
Troops, APCs sent to seal off rally site, says source
The government has abruptly cancelled its offer to hold a general election on Nov 14 after red shirt protesters refused to call off their rally at Ratchaprasong.
As the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) is showing no signs of complying with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's demand to end the rally, the government has responded by dropping its offer to dissolve the House between Sept 15-30 and call an election on Nov 14, Korbsak Sabhavasu, the prime minister's secretary-general said yesterday.
Mr Korbsak said the red shirt co-leaders had initially agreed to the reconciliation proposal. But then they had been unable to reach a common resolution on whether to accept the plan and also pressed additional demands, which complicated and eventually foiled the negotiations with the government.
"It is fitting then that the premier has rescinded the offer to hold an early poll as the red shirts have refused to disperse," he said.
The red shirt bosses had promised to end their rally as soon as Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban turned himself into police to face charges related to the April 10 clashes, which left 25 people dead.
UDD leaders said Mr Suthep's surrender to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) was not good enough and demanded he instead report to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD).
They said Mr Suthep had only appeared at the DSI to acknowledge the complaint filed against him by relatives of those killed and injured in the April 10 clashes, not to report to authorities as a suspect and be charged.
"Mr Suthep should bow to our condition and turn himself in to police as a suspect. After that we can all go home and prepare for elections," said red shirt co-leader Korkaew Pikulthong.
Families of red shirt victims were accompanied to the CSD yesterday by a close aide of former senator Pratheep Ungsongtham Hata yesterday. CSD deputy chief Col Sanit Mahathaworn said the investigators accepted their complaint for consideration.
Red shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan yesterday said the poll date would be useless as long as Mr Suthep did not enter the justice system.
"What is the election for when the guilty one still walks free. The protest will not end as long as justice is not delivered," he said.
Army chief Anupong Paojinda yesterday approved "Operation Ratchaprasong" involving 32,000 troops and 120 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) to seal off the rally site, an army source said.
The source said the operation will cut off food and water supplies to the protest area and stop rally-goers from leaving and entering.
All 120 APCs were scheduled to leave Saraburi last night.
Gen Anupong and army top brass met all day to discuss the plan to completely seal off Ratchaprasong. The use of force had not been brought up yet, said the source.
Despite the army plan said to be in the works, the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) yesterday postponed cutting off water and power supplies to the Ratchaprasong area.
CRES spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd made the announcement about the cut-off in the morning only to retract it in the evening, saying details would have to be worked out and the impact on those in the neighbourhood assessed.
Besides shopping arcades and hotels, there are two hospitals, several schools and embassies, commercial and residential establishments in the area.
The U-turn followed an uproar from those living nearby and warnings by water and power agency labour union leaders who feared the cut-off would hurt everyone but the protesters.An engineer at the Metropolitan Electricity Authority said shutting down the power would disrupt a wide area, covering not only Ratchaprasong but also buildings and residences on Sathon, Silom, Asok and Rama IV roads.
"It would have a major impact if the government really wants to cut the power. Residential buildings and hospitals would be in serious trouble if we went ahead," he said.
The UDD was not deterred by the CRES threat. Red shirt leaders said they have their own power generators which would work immediately after power supplies were cut. They also use water from fire hydrants connected to the water pipeline accessed by embassies, hospitals and schools in the area.