Red Shirts welcome Abhisit's roadmap

Political tensions in Thailand eased on Tuesday after anti-government demonstrators in central Bangkok gave their support to a reconciliation plan presented by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The plan that includes general elections by November 14 – more than a year ahead of schedule – heralds the end of almost seven weeks of political protests in the capital. Clashes between protesters and security forces have left over 27 dead and hundreds injured.

Compromise solution

The anti-government group, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), known for wearing red, gave its support almost a day after Mr. Abhisit had submitted the plan to parliament and presented it to a national TV audience. In an interview Mr. Abhisit had set out his aims of moving ahead on the reconciliation plan.

"My message is that the problem now involves both security and political issues. As far as the political issues are concerned the government is about to complete some kind of roadmap which we think is necessary for the country to achieve reconciliation."

Mr. Abhisit said a compromise had been necessary to enable elections to go ahead in a peaceful climate. The roadmap calls for support for the monarchy, constitutional reforms, improved economic and social programs for the poor and a general election in mid-November.

Red Shirts would prefer earlier elections

The UDD, which had urged the government to step down immediately and call elections, lent its support to the plan after talks amongst its leaders. Sean Boonpracong, the UDD spokesman, said:

"We welcome this framework. If Mr. Abhisit would like to see no more body counts within a framework of step by step peace negotiations, I think it's a good direction. But the time frame in terms of an election is a little bit too long from our standpoint."

Relief in Bangkok

Thailand has been gripped by its most severe political crisis in almost 20 years. Somphob Manarangsan, an economist at Chulalongkorn University welcomed the outcome. "If it's accepted by the Red Shirts I think that it is one of the best solutions that Thailand can have now. It is good news for Thailand because we're quite afraid of the catastrophic confrontation that is quite likely to take place if the events are simply going on."

Mr. Abhisit had told foreign media that the government was prepared to clear the protest site by force if the demonstrators had remained. The government is expected to press charges against several Red Shirt leaders for what the administration terms "terrorist activities".

Most of the supporters at the rallies, often the urban and rural poor, back a return to power of former leader, Thaksin Shinawatra, who now lives in exile after being given a two year jail term for corruption. On Tuesday Mr. Thaksin also gave his public support to the plan.

Author: Ron Corben (Bangkok)
Editor: Grahame Lucas