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The Army Club in Bangkok, where peace talks were taking place

Martial Law in Thailand: Suthep, Jatuporn Talk Peace with the General

Wednesday, May 21, 2014
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.

Comments

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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.

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If virtually every aspect of Thailand's economy has been damaged, most people are bemused that the Thai baht has stayed strong for so long. That does nothing for exports or tourism.

Posted by Logic on May 22, 2014 06:35

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I have to admit I found the paragraph "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" a bit rich. "Abandoned his career" ? To make a Thailand free from nepotism and corruption" ? He succeeded his own father as Kamnan at age 26, based purely on merit, I'm sure. "As part of the Sor Por Kor 4-01 (????????????????????.4-01) land reform scheme, Suthep gave title deeds to 592 plots of land in Khao Sam Liam, Kamala and Nakkerd hills of Phuket province to 489 farmers. It was later found that members of 11 wealthy families in Phuket were among the recipients. ... The scandal led Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai of the Democrat Party to dissolve the House of Representatives in July 1995 in order to avoid the no-confidence debate. ... According to a 2008 diplomatic cable from the US embassy published by Wikileaks, several members of his own party have complained of Suthep's corrupt and unethical behavior, describing him as a "backroom deal-maker. ... In 2009, Suthep was accused of violating the Constitution of Thailand by holding equity in a media firm that had received concessions from the government. ... Suthep held a press conference a day later, announcing his decision to resign from Parliament. Suthep's resignation as an MP did not affect his status as a Deputy Prime Minister and as a Cabinet member. If his case had been submitted to the Constitution Court, he would have been suspended from duty as Deputy Prime Minister. ... After several Criminal court rulings that deaths and injuries sustained by red-shirt protesters ... were the direct result of orders ... given by Suthep Thaugsuban, the director of the CRES, the Department of Special Investigation, public prosecutors and police agreed to file murder charges against him." (source: Wikipedia) Sounds like an upstanding citizen, who I have no doubt will free Thailand from corruption and nepotism. (Don't have faith in the other side either.)

Interesting that both Suthep's wife's and Jatuporn's family names are Prompan - any connection to the supermarket ? Both southern folk.

Posted by James on May 22, 2014 09:26

Editor Comment:

I don't know why there's the assumption among some readers that nothing or no-one ever changes. As we all know, change is inevitable. Suthep is on record as admitting he hasn't always been the best-behaving person in the world. He abandoned politics and took to the streets in the aftermath of the attempt to pas the Amnesty Bill, one of the most rotten and corrupt pieces of legislation Thailand has seen. He could have taken the amnesty himself - and the money, if some reports about rotten MPs are true. He has been declared Asia's Man of the Year by one magazine for taking a stand. Yet historical passages will be quoted forever and a day by people who live in the past and don't believe people change . . . now if you actually had some first-hand knowledge of your own, James, that might prove invaluable. But over the past six months, nobody has come forward with that kind of worthwhile information. Suthep has been a catalyst for change and given Thailand its best chance of a reboot - hopefully without him, and without Thaksin Shinawatra.

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To the editor... you have now responded twice in defence of Suthep and his reputation.

Obviously your article will now be viewed as biased.

You should have done your job and remained neutral.
Reporting FACTS!

Posted by jake on May 22, 2014 21:21

Editor Comment:

Are you as ignorant as you appear, jake? We are advocates of two things for Thailand, change and an end to corruption. The journalism we provide is distinct from the comments of readers and responses from the editor. Those who can't tell the difference are destined to forever be misinformed. Too bad, jake. And please allow me to let you in on a little secret: All journalists have opinions.


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