lonelywombat
March 11th, 2006, 07:17
POLITICS / RIVALS' TUG-OF-WAR CONTINUES
Daytime headlights campaign picks up, but some dislike it
SURASAK GLAHAN
Motorists who turn on their headlights during daytime to back Privy Council Surayud Chulanont's call for talks have different goals in mind.
More motorists turned on their lights yesterday to send the message that they supported Gen Surayud's call for negotiations between the government of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and its opponents to end political tensions.
The headlights campaign started on Wednesday after assistant national police chief Achirawit Suwanphesat urged the public to turn on their lights as a solution to the political turmoil. Only a few drivers listened to his suggestion but more joined yesterday after Gen Surayud reiterated the message.
Somnuek Poolperm, 42, a chauffeur who has been turning on his lights since Wednesday, said he wanted both camps to yield ground before the crisis became any worse.
'Both sides have to step back. The premier's resignation alone won't bring an end to the crisis,'' he said. ''The opposition camp has to run in the election as well,'' he added.
But Yuwadee Sinsiriwan, a 27-year-old officer worker, said she neither liked Mr Thaksin's camp nor the opposition because all politicians would probably do the same thing.
''The opponents should stop protesting because it won't improve anything. The two sides should agree to meet and talk so a solution can be reached.''
Nitipong Patnun, a taxi driver in his sixties, said the army told him to turn on his headlights and as a former military man he understood the importance of orders. He himself, however, agreed that both sides should sit down and talk.
Drivers who did not turn on their headlights also had their reasons, saying the concept was too vague.
Panadda Ornbanjong, a 30-year-old company employee, opposed the campaign on the grounds that it would never bring about a solution because Mr Thaksin was too stubborn.
''My only belief is that Mr Thaksin should resign. If someone starts that kind of campaign, let me know.''
A designer in her thirties, who asked not to be named, said the police chief wanted too much. ''The police chief not only urged the two camps to talk but also wanted Mr Thaksin's resignation. I don't want him to resign,'' she said.
POLITICS TUG-OF-WAR CONTINUES
Opposition counters TRT advertisement
Supawadee Inthawong
The opposition parties yesterday issued a statement to reject a Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party advertisement published in newspapers, condemning it as "full of lies".
"We will send an open letter to the Thai Rak Thai party and distribute one million copies to people nationwide," said Democrat deputy leader Jurin Laksanavisit.
Key figures in the Democrat, Chart Thai and Mahachon parties yesterday agreed on a six-point statement to counter the allegations made by TRT, said Mr Jurin, chairman of the three opposition party committee.
TRT placed an advertisement called "TRT Message Vol 1" in newspapers on Wednesday to explain the reasons behind the snap election called after Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra dissolved parliament. It questioned the opposition's motives in boycotting the poll.
The advertisement also questioned the Democrat and Chart Thai parties' commitment to democracy, saying they were prepared to field candidates in elections held under dictatorships, but not in the next poll, being held under a democratically-elected government.
TRT implied that the opposition's boycott counteracted the approval by His Majesty the King of the House dissolution.
But Mr Jurin said the advertisement distorted the facts and slandered the opposition.
He said the opposition would ask the Election Commission to warn TRT that its action might be in violation of the law prohibiting libel among parties. Defying the warning could lead to the party's leader being suspended, he said.
The opposition said the TRT's reference to His Majesty was inappropriate. Although the King approved the House dissolution, it was the Thaksin government which initiated the request.
The statement also said the House dissolution was not "justified" because Mr Thaksin cited the peaceful demonstration against him as a reason even though demonstrations were a basic right.
Mr Thaksin dissolved the House to avoid an impeachment bid against him and of using the April 2 election as a way to return to the top job.
Critics in possible forum with Thaksin
(TNA) тАУ The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has accepted an invitation from the People's Network for Elections (P-Net), the independent election watchdog, to participate in a joint forum with Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra set for March 24.
Pipob Thongchai, a key PAD leader, said his group accepts the invitation to join the forum because it is an effective method for the public to know the arguments and evidence of both sides presented in an orderly and measured manner.
The setting of a forum is better than styles of communication, Mr. Pipob said, as people will be able to make a better judgements when in addition to the intellectual argument the public can see reactions and non-verbal language on the part of the participant speakers.
He added that he hoped the Prime Minister would accept the invitation to join the forum.
"There will be no condition for the two sides to participate in the forum," Mr. Pipob said. "This isn't the debate actually, but it will be a forum of expressing views and opinions of each side."
The PAD insisted on maintaining its stance that the Prime Minister lacks legitimacy to govern the country because he has worn two 'hats' -- as a businessman and a politician, causing conflict of interest and a damage to the nation, he said.
P-Net has invited Mr. Thaksin and Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party secretary-general Suriya Jungrungreangkit and deputy TRT leader Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan to a planned three-hour debate against the caretaker prime minister's major critics.
The critical trio are Maj-Gen. Chamlong Srimuang, Sondhi Limthongkul and Pipop Thongchai, who is currently leading the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in massive calls for the caretaker prime minister to step down.
The P-Net is organising the event at Thammasat University in a bid to find a way out of the political gridlock.
Daytime headlights campaign picks up, but some dislike it
SURASAK GLAHAN
Motorists who turn on their headlights during daytime to back Privy Council Surayud Chulanont's call for talks have different goals in mind.
More motorists turned on their lights yesterday to send the message that they supported Gen Surayud's call for negotiations between the government of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and its opponents to end political tensions.
The headlights campaign started on Wednesday after assistant national police chief Achirawit Suwanphesat urged the public to turn on their lights as a solution to the political turmoil. Only a few drivers listened to his suggestion but more joined yesterday after Gen Surayud reiterated the message.
Somnuek Poolperm, 42, a chauffeur who has been turning on his lights since Wednesday, said he wanted both camps to yield ground before the crisis became any worse.
'Both sides have to step back. The premier's resignation alone won't bring an end to the crisis,'' he said. ''The opposition camp has to run in the election as well,'' he added.
But Yuwadee Sinsiriwan, a 27-year-old officer worker, said she neither liked Mr Thaksin's camp nor the opposition because all politicians would probably do the same thing.
''The opponents should stop protesting because it won't improve anything. The two sides should agree to meet and talk so a solution can be reached.''
Nitipong Patnun, a taxi driver in his sixties, said the army told him to turn on his headlights and as a former military man he understood the importance of orders. He himself, however, agreed that both sides should sit down and talk.
Drivers who did not turn on their headlights also had their reasons, saying the concept was too vague.
Panadda Ornbanjong, a 30-year-old company employee, opposed the campaign on the grounds that it would never bring about a solution because Mr Thaksin was too stubborn.
''My only belief is that Mr Thaksin should resign. If someone starts that kind of campaign, let me know.''
A designer in her thirties, who asked not to be named, said the police chief wanted too much. ''The police chief not only urged the two camps to talk but also wanted Mr Thaksin's resignation. I don't want him to resign,'' she said.
POLITICS TUG-OF-WAR CONTINUES
Opposition counters TRT advertisement
Supawadee Inthawong
The opposition parties yesterday issued a statement to reject a Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party advertisement published in newspapers, condemning it as "full of lies".
"We will send an open letter to the Thai Rak Thai party and distribute one million copies to people nationwide," said Democrat deputy leader Jurin Laksanavisit.
Key figures in the Democrat, Chart Thai and Mahachon parties yesterday agreed on a six-point statement to counter the allegations made by TRT, said Mr Jurin, chairman of the three opposition party committee.
TRT placed an advertisement called "TRT Message Vol 1" in newspapers on Wednesday to explain the reasons behind the snap election called after Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra dissolved parliament. It questioned the opposition's motives in boycotting the poll.
The advertisement also questioned the Democrat and Chart Thai parties' commitment to democracy, saying they were prepared to field candidates in elections held under dictatorships, but not in the next poll, being held under a democratically-elected government.
TRT implied that the opposition's boycott counteracted the approval by His Majesty the King of the House dissolution.
But Mr Jurin said the advertisement distorted the facts and slandered the opposition.
He said the opposition would ask the Election Commission to warn TRT that its action might be in violation of the law prohibiting libel among parties. Defying the warning could lead to the party's leader being suspended, he said.
The opposition said the TRT's reference to His Majesty was inappropriate. Although the King approved the House dissolution, it was the Thaksin government which initiated the request.
The statement also said the House dissolution was not "justified" because Mr Thaksin cited the peaceful demonstration against him as a reason even though demonstrations were a basic right.
Mr Thaksin dissolved the House to avoid an impeachment bid against him and of using the April 2 election as a way to return to the top job.
Critics in possible forum with Thaksin
(TNA) тАУ The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has accepted an invitation from the People's Network for Elections (P-Net), the independent election watchdog, to participate in a joint forum with Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra set for March 24.
Pipob Thongchai, a key PAD leader, said his group accepts the invitation to join the forum because it is an effective method for the public to know the arguments and evidence of both sides presented in an orderly and measured manner.
The setting of a forum is better than styles of communication, Mr. Pipob said, as people will be able to make a better judgements when in addition to the intellectual argument the public can see reactions and non-verbal language on the part of the participant speakers.
He added that he hoped the Prime Minister would accept the invitation to join the forum.
"There will be no condition for the two sides to participate in the forum," Mr. Pipob said. "This isn't the debate actually, but it will be a forum of expressing views and opinions of each side."
The PAD insisted on maintaining its stance that the Prime Minister lacks legitimacy to govern the country because he has worn two 'hats' -- as a businessman and a politician, causing conflict of interest and a damage to the nation, he said.
P-Net has invited Mr. Thaksin and Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party secretary-general Suriya Jungrungreangkit and deputy TRT leader Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan to a planned three-hour debate against the caretaker prime minister's major critics.
The critical trio are Maj-Gen. Chamlong Srimuang, Sondhi Limthongkul and Pipop Thongchai, who is currently leading the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in massive calls for the caretaker prime minister to step down.
The P-Net is organising the event at Thammasat University in a bid to find a way out of the political gridlock.