Thai premier pleads for end to street protests

Thailand’s prime minister pleaded today for an end to two months of street protests paralysing the capital and an acceptance of his reconciliation plan that was stalled by a fresh outbreak of violence.

Thailand’s prime minister pleaded today for an end to two months of street protests paralysing the capital and an acceptance of his reconciliation plan that was stalled by a fresh outbreak of violence.

Hopes that the prolonged protests by so-called Red Shirt demonstrators would end without further bloodshed were dashed when two attacks on Friday night killed two policemen and wounded 13 people.

The violence was just outside the protest occupation zone in Bangkok’s prime commercial district, which saw its upscale shopping centres and five-star hotels shuttered for weeks.

Today, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva went on nationwide television to ask all parties to accept his five-point reconciliation plan, which includes new elections on November 14.

“Don’t hesitate. If you agree with the reconciliation, quit the demonstration and start working together,” he said. He described those instigating violence to undermine peace efforts as “terrorists” who would not be granted amnesty.

He also promised to address some of the grievances of the protesters, including rural poverty and social injustice.

The Red Shirts, who refused to leave the protest site, said last night they that would unveil their own proposal to resolve the crisis in the next few days, pledging it would be flexible and open to negotiations.

Nattawut Saikua, a protest leader, said he agreed with the government that the reconciliation process should be finalised by May 15.

But government spokesman Panithan Wattanayagorn earlier said that if the protesters didn’t end their occupation of Bangkok’s commercial district “some people who don’t wish to see reconciliation take place may take this opportunity to launch another attack”.

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