Key protesters await Democrat Party stance

BANGKOK, May 5 (TNA) –The anti-government protesters are awaiting a clear statement of position from the government before they make their decision to end their protest in the capital, Nattawut Saikua, a top protest leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) said Wednesday.

Another top UDD leader, Weng Tojirakan, earlier said the Red Shirts will hold closed-door talks with the government before the ongoing demonstration against the government ends. However, Mr Nattawut said the UDD has yet to be contacted by the government.

Mr Natthawut’s remarks were made two days after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced his five-point national reconciliation plan aimed at ending political stalemate which has impacted the national economy as well as private businesses, especially in Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong and Silom-Saladaeng districts.

Comments made by the ruling Democrat Party are inconsistent regarding the proposed plan.The problem among the Democrats is not about the House dissolution, but rather on amending the Constitution, he said.

Worse still the UDD’s rival the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has objected to the plan so it is better for Mr. Abhisit to further clarify his plan, he added.

Weng Tojirakarn, another UDD key leader, said that he believed the Red Shirts are still awaiting the government response and he expected that there should be good news within one or two days.

Several issues must be discussed between the government and UDD leaders and if a compromise is reached, they will be relayed to other protesting leaders, said Mr Weng.

Mr Nattawut said at the evening news conference that the Red Shirts will continue their rally and that no date has been set for the end of their protest at Ratchaprasong.

Jatuporn Prompan said the five-pronged roadmap proposed by the prime minister has no concrete details, particularly that on the exact date of the dissolution of the House.

He called on the government to discuss the matter with the chairman of the Election Commission

Another UDD leader, Veera  Musikapong, told demonstrators that they would be able to return home soon as UDD is awaiting an announcement by the prime minister on the exact date to dissolve the House.

As the protesters are waiting for the exact date of dissolving the House of Representatives, Mr Weng said he would accompany relatives of those killed in the April 10 clashes on Ratchadamnoen Avenue and file criminal and civil charges against the government at the Crime Suppression Division on May 10.

Twenty-five persons were killed and more than 800 wounded during clashes between Army troops with UDD protesters on April 10. (TNA)