BANGKOK: Army martial law leader General Prayut Chan-O-Cha was chairing a private meeting this afternoon of all the major parties aimed at settling Thailand's long-running political crisis.
About 200 media representatives were told to leave the Army Club in Bangkok where anti-government leaders were sitting down with government representatives for the first time since the street protests began in November.
At the same time, police at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport were reported to have arrested Dr Seree Wongmontha, a protest leader well known for making speeches at the capital's street rallies. He was arrested by Immigration on return from the US.
The wild card of the surprise arrest may have no bearing on the peace talks, which appeared to be a sign of genuine progress in bringing the warring parties together.
Although the imposition of martial law has been strongly criticised, especially by media freedom groups, it's difficult to see what alternative the Army had with violence the likely outcome as supporters of the government massed on one side of Bangkok and anti-government protesters promised yet another ''final confrontation'' on the other.
Present at today's private talks with the general were Suthep Thaugsuban, the charismatic former Deputy PM who abandoned his career as an MP to lead the street marches aimed at obliterating Thaksin Shinawatra from politics and starting over again, with Thailand free from nepotism and corruption.
Also present was Jatuporn Prompan, the best-known leader of Thaksin's supporters, the Red Shirts. The longer the talks go, the better the chances of a compromise being reached that could assure Thailand's future.
Invited to meet the general today were five representatives of the Pheu Thai ruling party, five from the opposition Democrat Party, five from the vestiges of the Yingluck Shinawatra government, five from the UDD, five from the PDRC, five senators and five representatives from Thailand's Electoral Commission.
Virtually every aspect of the country's economy has been damaged in the arm-wrestle between the supporters of a democratically elected government and the street rebels who want the way Thailand is run reformed before the next national vote.
The February 2 elections, pushed forward by Thaksin's sister Yingluck, like him a Prime Minister brought down without a ballot, ended in farce and failure.
The next poll, originally proposed for July, has now been pushed back to possibly August and is likely to also fail unless agreement can be reached at the talks now taking place at the Army Club in Viphavadi Road.
Thailand's military called the crisis talks, vowing to stop the nation degenerating into another ''Ukraine or Egypt'' after imposing martial law to suppress months of street bloodshed.
About 200 media representatives were told to leave the Army Club in Bangkok where anti-government leaders were sitting down with government representatives for the first time since the street protests began in November.
At the same time, police at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport were reported to have arrested Dr Seree Wongmontha, a protest leader well known for making speeches at the capital's street rallies. He was arrested by Immigration on return from the US.
The wild card of the surprise arrest may have no bearing on the peace talks, which appeared to be a sign of genuine progress in bringing the warring parties together.
Although the imposition of martial law has been strongly criticised, especially by media freedom groups, it's difficult to see what alternative the Army had with violence the likely outcome as supporters of the government massed on one side of Bangkok and anti-government protesters promised yet another ''final confrontation'' on the other.
Present at today's private talks with the general were Suthep Thaugsuban, the charismatic former Deputy PM who abandoned his career as an MP to lead the street marches aimed at obliterating Thaksin Shinawatra from politics and starting over again, with Thailand free from nepotism and corruption.
Also present was Jatuporn Prompan, the best-known leader of Thaksin's supporters, the Red Shirts. The longer the talks go, the better the chances of a compromise being reached that could assure Thailand's future.
Invited to meet the general today were five representatives of the Pheu Thai ruling party, five from the opposition Democrat Party, five from the vestiges of the Yingluck Shinawatra government, five from the UDD, five from the PDRC, five senators and five representatives from Thailand's Electoral Commission.
Virtually every aspect of the country's economy has been damaged in the arm-wrestle between the supporters of a democratically elected government and the street rebels who want the way Thailand is run reformed before the next national vote.
The February 2 elections, pushed forward by Thaksin's sister Yingluck, like him a Prime Minister brought down without a ballot, ended in farce and failure.
The next poll, originally proposed for July, has now been pushed back to possibly August and is likely to also fail unless agreement can be reached at the talks now taking place at the Army Club in Viphavadi Road.
Thailand's military called the crisis talks, vowing to stop the nation degenerating into another ''Ukraine or Egypt'' after imposing martial law to suppress months of street bloodshed.
Suthep and charismatic in the same sentence? honestly? Megalomaniac power hungry fool who will stop at nothing would have sounded better.
Posted by Really on May 21, 2014 16:57
Editor Comment:
Except it wouldn't be true, Really. But then, don't let us divert you from your propaganda.