Protestors want election date clarified in Thai peace deal
Thai protesters said today they had accepted a deal to end the violent political crisis that has paralysed central Bangkok for nearly two months.
The Red Shirts agreed to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s proposal to hold new elections on November 14 in exchange for an end to their protest.
The Red Shirt leaders met to discuss the five-point plan and "unanimously welcomed the reconciliation process,'' said Veera Musigapong, a protest leader.
But he did not say when they would clear the streets of Bangkok, and other leaders called on the government to clarify some details of the plan, including the election date.
“We want to negotiate. All of us unanimously agree that we must enter into negotiations and we want to save a lot of lives. However, we want a little bit of sincerity,” said a protest spokesman.
The protesters said they wanted clarification on the timeframe for the election, asked for unspecified confidence-building gestures from the government and demanded the monarchy not be used as a weapon in the confrontation.
The government has accused the protesters of being anti-monarchy, a severe accusation in a nation where the king is beloved and disparaging the royal family is a crime.
Abhisit made his compromise offer in a speech last night broadcast on all television channels, eight weeks into a tense stand-off with demonstrators that has cost 27 lives.
Chavalit Yongchaiyuth, chairman of the opposition Pheu Thai party, praised the prime minister’s plan and said the Red Shirt protesters would end their protest tomorrow – Coronation Day, which marks the day King Bhumibol Adulyadej was officially crowned.
The protesters, mostly from the rural and urban poor, claim that Abhisit came to power illegitimately in December 2008 with the help of army pressure.
They have previously called for Parliament to be dissolved in 30 days or less. An election must be held within 60 days of Parliament being dissolved.
