UDD agrees to limit rally to two hoursFirst round of talks with businesses
Publish : 15/02/2011
Newspaper section : News
The United Front for Democacy against Dictatorship has vowed to go ahead with plans for a really at Ratchaprasong intersection but it has agreed to restrict the duration of the protest.
The UDD, led by its chairwomen Thida Thavornseth and key leader jatuporn Prompan, yesterday met business operators from the Ratchaprasong area for talks on the next planned rally next Sunday.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police bureau acted as a go-between.
After the negotiation, Metropolitan Police bureau chief Jakthip Chaijinda said the UDD has insisted it will protest at Ratchaprasong twice a month but will limit the length of the rallies to two hours.
Businesses appeared happy with the outcome, Pol Lt gen Jakthip said.
He said the three sides will hold talks again on Thursday before the rally takes place on the sunday.
Last Sunday, red shirt protesters led by the UDD held a gathering at Ratchaprasong to commemorate the deaths of anti-goverment protesters killed in clashes with troops last May.
Entrepreneurs aand residents in the area have said they do not want any further protests as the rallies are hurting their businesses and they have called on the goverment to take action to curb the rallies.
Ms Thida said the rally planned for Jan 23 at Ratchaprasong will laast for only two hours. The red shirts will gather at Ratchaprasong at 1 pm and will move to Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Avenue by 3 pm.
The red shirt movement has never consiidered Ratchaprasong business operators as its adversaries.
this way actually a dispute between the UDD and the government ,Ms Thida said .
Mr Jatuporn said the negotiations had given both sides an opportunity to listen to each other's needs and concerns.
He said the UDD would try to a keep to a minimumm the impact of its rallies so businesses can operate as usual , while the protesters can stage rallies as guaranteed by the constitution.
He said the UDD, police and entrepreneurs will meet again on Thursday.
Chai Srivikorntions , president of the Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association, said the negotiation were a good beginning and all sides were satisfied with the outcome.
He said the UDD leaders and the business operators had reached an understanding that they are friends , not enemies.
Mr Chai said business operators had not opposed any gatherings but needed to be sure the gatherings caused the least amount of trouble.
He said he would relay the result of the meeting to other businesses and they will discuss what action to take next Sunday to minimise the impact of the rally.
After the protest next Sunday, representatives of each side will meet again for furtuer talks.
Reduce conflict heritage
January 3, at Goverment House, Prime Minister, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva an interview to the policy relationship between Thailand, Combodia,The main goal is not to want to see tensions between the countries. Thailand proposed that the guidelines do not let that heritage is a problem.He has met with Cambodia we will find someone responsible to familiar with each other. To avoid the crux of the conflict, World Heritage,Which the deputy Prime Minister Mr. Sok AN, And the Foreign Ministry to the office of the Prime Minister of Cambodia. Will meet with Mr. Suwit Khunkitti, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment. In this January.
The prime Minister said, we hope that at least progress. I do not want to trouble the World Heritage Committee meeting in June of this tension. He still would not to meet with King Hun Sen. Prime Minister of Cambodia at this time. But to meet the existing ASEAN.
The Deputy Prime Minister of security section, Mr. Sutaep: Talks to about Cambodia that goverment is not satisfied that the Commission postpone the region with Thailand and Cambodia (J B C) out several times that Cambodia had to explain to understand the reason in During Mr. Ouk San. Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia To meet and discuss with Mr. Suwit Khunkitti world heritage issues pending.He has discussions with Mr. Sok An, of field works territories.Because the problems have notthing better to talk together.
