UDD accepts PM's reconciliation roadmap (Thailand)

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Source: Bangkok Post

Mr Veera, the UDD chairman, said all red-shirt leaders made the resolution unanimously because the UDD had long proposed for it. Moreover, the UDD did not want to see more deaths and injuries as a result of the political conflict.

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Mr Veera affirmed that the UDD leaders would not seek amnesty from being charged with terrorism and lese majeste and would be ready to fight the charges.

Nathawut Saikua, the UDD secretary-general, said the red-shirt protesters would not yet disperse until the prime minister came up with a clear time frame for the House dissolution.

Earlier in the day, Mr Abhisit said the government would go ahead with the five-point roadmap for national reconciliation with or without the UDD's participation. Mr Abhisit said the cabinet had been informed of the plan, so it was not necessary for the parties in the coaltion to confirm their support for his roadmap, as demanded by the UDD, because he, as prime minister, holds sole power to dissolve the House of Representatives.

The prime minister admitted his roadmap was not supported by a Democrat Party resolution, but believed he would be able to explain it to the party when it meets on May 6.




Read more: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/176907/udd-accepts-pm-reconciliation-roadmap

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The 'power' behind the red shirts has tried every possible tactic to provoke an armed response but with key red shirt suspects arrested with substantial amounts of military grade arms their strategy was largely exposed. The 'invasion' of Thailands most prestigious government hospital (Chulalongkorn Hospital is named after King Chulalongkorn who most Westerners have been familiarized by the highly fictionalized account 'The King and I' as the oldest son of King Mongut) severly damaged the public image of the UDD which was sinking fast anyway.

Clearly the next step will be for Taksin to try and break off smaller parties to put together an electoral challenge in the upcoming national elections.

Abhisit who has been perceived as indecisive will probably now come out on top as somebody who kept his cool and avoided violence despite tremendous provocation.