Red Shirts Demands for Elections

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has agreed to demands made by the Thaksin-backed Red Shirts led by Chanyut Hengtrakul and others to dissolve the Parliament and to step down as prime minstermnister and allow new elections, but not on the immediate timetable the opposition demanded and under certain conditions he has set.

"If certain conditions are met as a part of national reconciliation to end the political crisis, the current government will set a general election for November 14," Mr. Abhpisit said.

He added, "The Lower House of Parliament will be dissolved September 15 - 30."

Leader of the Red Shirts in Pattaya and the Eastern Seaboard and long-time friend and ally of Mr, Thaksin, Chanyut Hengtrakul said in an exclusive interview with the Pattaya Times, "Abhisit needs to make the situation better so he promised new elections and said at the end of October he will step down."

"I talk with Thaksin almost every day. He is very pleased with the progress we are making," the charismatic businessman said.

However, former Member of Parliament Chanyut added, "We are not sure Abhisit will keep his word. I am afraid he won’t hold a new election because he is afraid he and his team will lose the benefit of the multi-billion baht budget."

"Many people know I am the leader of the Red Shirts. We want democracy for Thailand. Those who say we want communism are wrong. Thaksin was elected by the people Abhisit was not. We want a fair election, Let the people decide," said Mr. Chanyut.

"Tomorrow the Red Shirts and Yellow Shirts will meet at Pattaya City Hall and shake hands. We all need to clear these problems together," he added.

"Last year when he had problems our Queen said no to his stepping down. But, by now she may have changed her mind and will agree it is time for him to go," Mr. Chanyut said.

Just before the announcement by Mr. Abhisit, he and two deputy Prime Ministers were called to the Royal Palace.

Afterwards, in a nationally televised address, Mr Abhisit proposed a five-prong road map to reconciliation which, he said, would welcome all who want the country back to normalcy.

Firstly, he said the monarchy must not be used as a tool in political conflicts, but all parties should help protect and respect the institution. The government earlier accused some Red Shirt supporters of intending to overthrow the monarchy and some were detained for publicized comments on websites that are considered as insulting to the monarchy, he said.

Secondly, Thailand's reform to end the conflict and restore justice in society will include resolving economic inequality, he went on.

Thirdly Mr. Abhisit said that the principles of the right to freedom of expression should be observed, but the media must avoid reports that could incite or instigate the conflict in society.

Fourthly, Prime Minister Abhisit said that an independent panel would be set up for fact finding regarding incidents of protesters and security forces losing their lives on April 10 at Ratchadamnoen Avenue's Khok Wua intersection, at Silom Road on April 22 and at Don Mueang on April 28.

His fifth point was, "All political parties should join together to amend the Constitution and some legal issues to be agreed upon by all sides."

Prime Minister Abhisit said that he admitted that his road map could not satisfy all parties but the government believed if they received good response and cooperation from the public and all color shirts and political factions concerned, reconciliation could return to Thai society.

He added the government was ready to let the voters make the decision of who should run the country by holding a general election on November 14.

However, if the proposals do not receive wide support, he said, the government would go ahead as planned but the process would be delayed and the government would not conduct a general election on November 14 as targeted.

Prime Minister Abhisit stated that if the mid-November general election was conducted according to the Constitution he would dissolve the Lower House of Parliament between 45 and 60 days beforehand, meaning the dissolution would be fixed for sometime during late August and early September.