EU urges negotiation to resolve Thailand’s political crisis

BANGKOK, April 29 (TNA) – The European Union office here on Thursday issued a
statement expressing concerns over the situation in Thailand, urging conflicting parties to seek negotiations to resolve the problem after the anti-government Red Shirts petitioned the EU seeking help to prevent human rights violation in Thailand.

Five Red Shirt representatives submitted a letter of UDD chairman Veera Musikapong to the EU Ambassador to Thailand David Lipman.

Mr Veera’s letter said the UDD has been campaigning for democracy, but it has been threatened by the government through the use of security forces and arms.

The letter also urged the EU to condemn the Thai government and stop its crackdown on innocent people.

After receiving the letter from Red Shirts, the EU issued a statement conveying its deep concern over the situation and expressing sorrow over the deaths and injuries. It also urged all parties concerned to respect the law and seek negotiation to bring Thailand out of crisis peacefully and democratically.

Meanwhile, the French news agency Agence France Presse (AFP) quoted Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, now on an official visit to Indonesia, as saying the international community should not intervene in Thai politics as the Thai government could control the situation.

“There is no need for international intervention at this point in time,” said Mr Kasit. “I think we’re very much in control of the situation and it’s still very much an internal affair of Thailand.”

The Thai foreign minister said that Thailand appreciated the expressions of concerns of ASEAN countries, but still, the Thailand can handle and that “There’s no need for ASEAN to help.”

In another development following the chart of a movement to overthrow the monarch earlier exposed by the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES), Red Shirt leader Korbkaew Pikulthong, whose name was on the list, said he will assign his lawyer to file a police complaint Friday afternoon against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban as CRES director, and Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd as CRES spokesman.

Mr Korbkaew asserted he has never committed such behaviour and it is unacceptable that the CRES chart has raised an untrue accusation.

Another Red Shirt leader Nattawut Saikua, who was also on the CRES chart, denied the accusation as groundless and that he will also file a police complaint against the agency.

Mr Nattawut added the Red Shirt legal team will file a complaint to the Civil Court seeking its order for the government to clarify the security forces’ operation in handling with crowd on Wednesday during the confrontation with Red Shirts on Vibhavadi Road whether it was in line with international standard practices.

The protest leader reaffirmed the Red Shirts will not march from the rally site at Ratchaprasong Thursday as there is the risk that they will be harmed by the government. (TNA)