Govt conditions for talks rejected
New initiative sought to let forum be held

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Fiery protest
Anti-Thaksin Shinawatra demonstrators stage a rally outside the Singapore embassy in Bangkok yesterday against the Shin-Temasek deal. They threatened to step up boycott of products and services of Singaporean companies. тАФ Boonnarong Bhudhipanya

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the former parliamentary opposition have rejected the government's conditions for talks, prolonging the stalemate increasingly polarising the country. But the People's Network for Election (P-Net), trying to bring the three parties to the negotiating table, remained hopeful of eventual success.

''We do not rush anyone because we believe the situation changes every day. I'd like all parties to think carefully. They have not accepted one another's proposal because each is still confident of victory,'' P-Net secretary-general Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said.

He added that it was still too early to conclude that the P-Net forum would not take place. It is set for March 24, so there was still time for things to change.

''What Thai Rak Thai has proposed is not the final model that all parties must accept. Everyone has the right to propose, and they normally start off with the maximum positions,'' Mr Somchai said.

As a condition for talks, the government demanded that the PAD call off its protest around Government House first.

According to Mr Somchai, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Phinij Jarusombat told P-Net that Mr Thaksin was willing to appear at the debate at Thammasat University alongside leaders of the opposition and the PAD if the condition was met.

The government made an about-turn after having earlier rejected any suggestion of a live debate between Mr Thaksin, the opposition and the PAD in an open forum arranged by P-Net.

Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, a PAD leader, insisted the protest for Mr Thaksin's resignation would continue and that the debate would have to happen publicly.

Maj-Gen Chamlong said he could not accept the other condition for talks set by the government _ that all parties accept the outcome of the April 2 election.

Government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee revealed the second condition last night and hinted that either Thai Rak Thai deputy leader Sudarat Keyuraphan or party secretary-general Suriya Jungrungreangkit might attend the P-Net forum instead of Mr Thaksin.

''It will be a most shameful election as Thai Rak Thai has no competitors in over 200 constituencies.

''How can it be a fair election?'' Maj-Gen Chamlong said.

PAD spokesman Suriyasai Katasila said the government's conditions were unacceptable, especially the one demanding an end to the protest because people had joined it of their own free will.

''The conditions show that the government has no true intention to come to a debate forum,'' he said.

The demand that all parties accept the election outcome was a bid to divert attention from all the corruption which had taken place under the administration, he added.

Democrat Sathit Wongnongtoey said he would ask his party on Monday whether he should go to the P-Net debate forum in case Mr Thaksin did not show up at the leaders' meeting but decided to send a representative instead.

''What is TRT (Thai Rak Thai) trying to do in this critical situation? I don't want to say that TRT is using this to play games and buy time,'' Mr Sathit said.

The PAD later urged P-Net to stage two separate forums for Mr Thaksin to meet the opposition, and the PAD.

Mr Somchai and Democrat spokesman Ong-art Klarmpaibul initially welcomed the proposal.

Mr Thaksin said last night that he knew his opponents in person and was ready to meet them. ''If they want to talk, let's talk. Do not bother to debate on TV.''

But he voiced preference for a forum being organised by the Council of the University Rectors of Thailand.

Gen Saiyud Kerdpol, PollWatch vice-chairman, said Mr Thaksin should come to talks so that he doesn't have to wander about looking for a place to work.

The caretaker prime minister has avoided going to Government House since the PAD surrounded it on Tuesday.

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