paulg
March 9th, 2006, 09:01
Surayud: It's time to sit and talk
Urges PM, opponents to end their stalemate
POST REPORTERS
Privy Councillor Surayud Chulanont yesterday called on caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his opponents to negotiate their differences as the stalemate between the two camps persisted.
Mr Thaksin welcomed Gen Surayud's call but the opposition Democrats insisted that the two sides had to agree first on what they saw as the problem.
''Discussion is the best solution because everyone is a grown-up, not a child,'' Gen Surayud told reporters.
''They should be thinking now whether it is time to sit down and talk,'' the former army chief added.
Gen Surayud said he had put on his headlights in support of a call by assistant national police chief Achirawit Suwanphesat and others for a peaceful solution. A number of cars were seen travelling with their headlights on yesterday.
Gen Surayud's appeal came as the People's Alliance for Democracy switched strategy from mass demonstrations to protests focused on businesses related to the Shin-Temasek deal to pile pressure on Mr Thaksin to step down.
One group protested at the Shin offices to confirm the PAD's boycott of the group's goods and services. The snapping in two of SIM cards of Advanced Info Service, the jewel in the crown of the group, was a highlight.
Other protesters went to the Singapore embassy to follow up on their call on Tuesday for Temasek Holdings to scrap its takeover of Shin Corp.
In welcoming Gen Surayud's call for talks, the caretaker prime minister said ''any time, anywhere''. Speaking in Chanthaburi, Mr Thaksin added: ''We are not only grown-ups, but all quite old.''
Prommin Lertsuridej, the caretaker prime minister's secretary-general, said Mr Thaksin had expressed readiness to talk with the PAD and the former parliamentary opposition since addressing the rally at Sanam Luang on March 3.
Mr Thaksin was ready to step back in every respect, Mr Prommin added. That included accepting a new election date that the Election Commission might set so that the former parliamentary opposition agreed to participate, and not taking up the premiership if he does not win half of the votes cast on election day, Mr Prommin said.
''The prime minister and Thai Rak Thai want to negotiate and do everything according to the rules,'' he said. ''But if people insist only on his stepping down, that is not negotiating but, on the contrary, will lead to a deadlock.''
Abhisit Vejjajiva, Democrat leader and former leader of the opposition, declined to comment on Gen Surayud's call, saying he was looking for a way out of the impasse.
But Mr Abhisit previously told the Bangkok Post that a respected person, who was not Gen Surayud or Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, the Privy Council chairman, recently expressed his wish for him to talk with the caretaker prime minister.
Mr Abhisit, however, insisted then that if he were to talk with Mr Thaksin, an impartial person must witness the event. Without such a witness, he would not be sure of the durability or constancy of Mr Thaksin's words.
Sathit Wongnongtoey, a Democrat executive, said the proposals of Gen Surayud and Pol Lt-Gen Achirawit _ who earlier called for all sides to take a step back _ concurred with those of the former opposition bloc and the PAD.
But Mr Sathit emphasised the need for Mr Thaksin to wind back his position and stop challenging the PAD by bringing in another mob to rival their supporters.
''Mr Thaksin has to match his words with deeds. That is he has to truly accept the proposal of Gen Surayud,'' Mr Sathit said. ''I believe this proposal is acceptable but Mr Thaksin has to share a common view of the problem.''
As protesters pressed ahead and calls for compromise mounted, the caretaker prime minister carried on with campaigning towards the April 2 snap election, with addresses in Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo and Chanthaburi.
Suriyasai Katasila, a key member of the PAD, hailed Gen Surayud's proposal as one that Mr Thaksin should consider.
Mr Thaksin had been stubborn and never taken a single step backward, the activist said.
On the contrary, he had kept up the offensive, going from a call on Feb 24 for the dissolution of the Lower House and a snap election, to the promise to amend the constitution although the situation allowed for limited participation.
He was also mobilising farmers to a gathering to confront anti-Thaksin protesters on Ratchadamnoen avenue from March 10-15. Mr Thaksin should resign unconditionally and then people's protests would end immediately, Mr Suriyasai said.
Boycott campaign gains momentum
POST REPORTERS
The campaign to boycott products and services provided by Shin Corp and Singaporean businesses is gaining momentum as the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) uses the purchase of Shin Corp shares by Temasek Holdings to pressure caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to step down.
The campaign strategy to unseat Mr Thaksin has now shifted towards consumers as activists draw up a ''boycott list'' of goods and services linked to Shin Corp and Singapore.
Consumer rights activists believe the negative ''economic momentum'' added to the protest efforts will hasten Mr Thaksin's demise.
The Foundation for Consumers and supporters of PAD picketed the embassy of Singapore yesterday, which has become a target of ire after the Singaporean government's investment arm, Temasek Holdings, bought shares of Shin Corp in a deal valued at 73 billion baht.
Some of the products and services provided by Shin Corp and Singaporean businesses include banks, airlines and hotels.
Rosana Tositrakul, head of the Federation for Consumer Rights Protection, said yesterday that the campaign would spread across Bangkok, beginning at key locations on Silom road and Chatuchak weekend market.
Somsak Kosaisuk, a core leader of the PAD, said the alliance was compiling a list of Singaporean investments in Thailand and would make the information public.
About 20 members of a slum group and the PAD also rallied at Shin Corp's headquarters on Vibhavadi Rangsit road and destroyed SIM cards for mobile phones operated by Advanced Info Service (AIS), a unit of Shin Corp.
Saree Ongsomwang, manager of the Foundation for Consumers, said she expected more people to discard their AIS SIM cards over the coming days.
Fifty boxes would be erected around Bangkok where people can drop off their unwanted SIM cards.
Thirty city police were despatched to guard Shin Corp headquarters. In a symbolic gesture, a large mock-up SIM card carrying the messages: ''No Dignity for AIS Users'', and ''Thailand Is Not for Sale'' was burned.
AIS, the leader in the provision of mobile phone services, is reportedly losing customers to DTAC, the number two.
A major firm in the service sector is apparently switching from AIS to DTAC at the end of the month in what an executive said was a deliberate boycott of AIS rather than a move brought about by competitive incentives offered by DTAC.
Industry sources estimate AIS has about 16 million customers, DTAC eight million and True 4.5 million.
Some consumers are already boycotting products linked to Mr Thaksin and his cronies. A businesswoman who runs a private school said she no longer buys products linked with Mr Thaksin. She said she had stopped serving Nescafe at her school and had switched to rival brands. Nescafe is manufactured in Thailand by a beverage empire owned by Prayudh Mahakitsiri, Thai Rak Thai deputy leader. The woman said she had thrown away her AIS phone and subscribed to DTAC. She has also refused to buy her new handset from MLINK, a firm run by one of Mr Thaksin's sisters.
Amornrat Wongsaenganan, 39, an office worker, said she will switch to DTAC next week. ''AIS is no longer a Thai firm, so there's no reason for me to patronise it.'' Somprasong Boonyachai, executive chairman of AIS, said the company was still registering subscriber growth.
Sigve Brekke, DTAC's chief executive, also played down any impact recent political uncertainties were having on business. He said the company's subscriber base was growing on target thanks to several new promotional campaigns.
Subhak Sivaraksa, president of TMB Bank, which has Singaporean bank DBS as a major shareholder, said he disagreed with the boycott, warning it could hurt Thailand's image in the world market.
Urges PM, opponents to end their stalemate
POST REPORTERS
Privy Councillor Surayud Chulanont yesterday called on caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his opponents to negotiate their differences as the stalemate between the two camps persisted.
Mr Thaksin welcomed Gen Surayud's call but the opposition Democrats insisted that the two sides had to agree first on what they saw as the problem.
''Discussion is the best solution because everyone is a grown-up, not a child,'' Gen Surayud told reporters.
''They should be thinking now whether it is time to sit down and talk,'' the former army chief added.
Gen Surayud said he had put on his headlights in support of a call by assistant national police chief Achirawit Suwanphesat and others for a peaceful solution. A number of cars were seen travelling with their headlights on yesterday.
Gen Surayud's appeal came as the People's Alliance for Democracy switched strategy from mass demonstrations to protests focused on businesses related to the Shin-Temasek deal to pile pressure on Mr Thaksin to step down.
One group protested at the Shin offices to confirm the PAD's boycott of the group's goods and services. The snapping in two of SIM cards of Advanced Info Service, the jewel in the crown of the group, was a highlight.
Other protesters went to the Singapore embassy to follow up on their call on Tuesday for Temasek Holdings to scrap its takeover of Shin Corp.
In welcoming Gen Surayud's call for talks, the caretaker prime minister said ''any time, anywhere''. Speaking in Chanthaburi, Mr Thaksin added: ''We are not only grown-ups, but all quite old.''
Prommin Lertsuridej, the caretaker prime minister's secretary-general, said Mr Thaksin had expressed readiness to talk with the PAD and the former parliamentary opposition since addressing the rally at Sanam Luang on March 3.
Mr Thaksin was ready to step back in every respect, Mr Prommin added. That included accepting a new election date that the Election Commission might set so that the former parliamentary opposition agreed to participate, and not taking up the premiership if he does not win half of the votes cast on election day, Mr Prommin said.
''The prime minister and Thai Rak Thai want to negotiate and do everything according to the rules,'' he said. ''But if people insist only on his stepping down, that is not negotiating but, on the contrary, will lead to a deadlock.''
Abhisit Vejjajiva, Democrat leader and former leader of the opposition, declined to comment on Gen Surayud's call, saying he was looking for a way out of the impasse.
But Mr Abhisit previously told the Bangkok Post that a respected person, who was not Gen Surayud or Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, the Privy Council chairman, recently expressed his wish for him to talk with the caretaker prime minister.
Mr Abhisit, however, insisted then that if he were to talk with Mr Thaksin, an impartial person must witness the event. Without such a witness, he would not be sure of the durability or constancy of Mr Thaksin's words.
Sathit Wongnongtoey, a Democrat executive, said the proposals of Gen Surayud and Pol Lt-Gen Achirawit _ who earlier called for all sides to take a step back _ concurred with those of the former opposition bloc and the PAD.
But Mr Sathit emphasised the need for Mr Thaksin to wind back his position and stop challenging the PAD by bringing in another mob to rival their supporters.
''Mr Thaksin has to match his words with deeds. That is he has to truly accept the proposal of Gen Surayud,'' Mr Sathit said. ''I believe this proposal is acceptable but Mr Thaksin has to share a common view of the problem.''
As protesters pressed ahead and calls for compromise mounted, the caretaker prime minister carried on with campaigning towards the April 2 snap election, with addresses in Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo and Chanthaburi.
Suriyasai Katasila, a key member of the PAD, hailed Gen Surayud's proposal as one that Mr Thaksin should consider.
Mr Thaksin had been stubborn and never taken a single step backward, the activist said.
On the contrary, he had kept up the offensive, going from a call on Feb 24 for the dissolution of the Lower House and a snap election, to the promise to amend the constitution although the situation allowed for limited participation.
He was also mobilising farmers to a gathering to confront anti-Thaksin protesters on Ratchadamnoen avenue from March 10-15. Mr Thaksin should resign unconditionally and then people's protests would end immediately, Mr Suriyasai said.
Boycott campaign gains momentum
POST REPORTERS
The campaign to boycott products and services provided by Shin Corp and Singaporean businesses is gaining momentum as the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) uses the purchase of Shin Corp shares by Temasek Holdings to pressure caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to step down.
The campaign strategy to unseat Mr Thaksin has now shifted towards consumers as activists draw up a ''boycott list'' of goods and services linked to Shin Corp and Singapore.
Consumer rights activists believe the negative ''economic momentum'' added to the protest efforts will hasten Mr Thaksin's demise.
The Foundation for Consumers and supporters of PAD picketed the embassy of Singapore yesterday, which has become a target of ire after the Singaporean government's investment arm, Temasek Holdings, bought shares of Shin Corp in a deal valued at 73 billion baht.
Some of the products and services provided by Shin Corp and Singaporean businesses include banks, airlines and hotels.
Rosana Tositrakul, head of the Federation for Consumer Rights Protection, said yesterday that the campaign would spread across Bangkok, beginning at key locations on Silom road and Chatuchak weekend market.
Somsak Kosaisuk, a core leader of the PAD, said the alliance was compiling a list of Singaporean investments in Thailand and would make the information public.
About 20 members of a slum group and the PAD also rallied at Shin Corp's headquarters on Vibhavadi Rangsit road and destroyed SIM cards for mobile phones operated by Advanced Info Service (AIS), a unit of Shin Corp.
Saree Ongsomwang, manager of the Foundation for Consumers, said she expected more people to discard their AIS SIM cards over the coming days.
Fifty boxes would be erected around Bangkok where people can drop off their unwanted SIM cards.
Thirty city police were despatched to guard Shin Corp headquarters. In a symbolic gesture, a large mock-up SIM card carrying the messages: ''No Dignity for AIS Users'', and ''Thailand Is Not for Sale'' was burned.
AIS, the leader in the provision of mobile phone services, is reportedly losing customers to DTAC, the number two.
A major firm in the service sector is apparently switching from AIS to DTAC at the end of the month in what an executive said was a deliberate boycott of AIS rather than a move brought about by competitive incentives offered by DTAC.
Industry sources estimate AIS has about 16 million customers, DTAC eight million and True 4.5 million.
Some consumers are already boycotting products linked to Mr Thaksin and his cronies. A businesswoman who runs a private school said she no longer buys products linked with Mr Thaksin. She said she had stopped serving Nescafe at her school and had switched to rival brands. Nescafe is manufactured in Thailand by a beverage empire owned by Prayudh Mahakitsiri, Thai Rak Thai deputy leader. The woman said she had thrown away her AIS phone and subscribed to DTAC. She has also refused to buy her new handset from MLINK, a firm run by one of Mr Thaksin's sisters.
Amornrat Wongsaenganan, 39, an office worker, said she will switch to DTAC next week. ''AIS is no longer a Thai firm, so there's no reason for me to patronise it.'' Somprasong Boonyachai, executive chairman of AIS, said the company was still registering subscriber growth.
Sigve Brekke, DTAC's chief executive, also played down any impact recent political uncertainties were having on business. He said the company's subscriber base was growing on target thanks to several new promotional campaigns.
Subhak Sivaraksa, president of TMB Bank, which has Singaporean bank DBS as a major shareholder, said he disagreed with the boycott, warning it could hurt Thailand's image in the world market.