Thai protesters ‘accept’ Nov. 14 elections but set new demands for government

Thai protesters OK poll date but set new demands

BANGKOK — Thai anti-government protesters said Monday they would continue their crippling demonstration in central Bangkok until the prime minister and his deputy surrender to police to face possible criminal charges for deadly street violence.

Although a key Red Shirt leader said they accepted Prime Abhisit Vejjajiva’s timetable for Nov. 14 elections, the protesters’ latest demand — presented as their formal position — could dash hopes of ending the two-month standoff soon.

However, a quick government response that Abhisit and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban were willing to submit themselves to proper judicial processes — rather than just peremptorily rejecting the notion — left open the possibility that there might still be common ground for a settlement.

There are no criminal charges outstanding against the two men, so it was not clear what action would satisfy the Red Shirts’ demand. The ambiguity leaves some leeway for both sides.

Nattawut Saikua blamed Suthep for violence during the protests that has left 29 dead and hundreds injured. Suthep played a key role in the government’s security response to the protests.

“The day Suthep turns himself in to police is the day we the Red Shirts go home,” Nattawut told cheering crowds in an announcement at the protest stage.

Another protest leader, Jatuporn Prompan, said Abhisit should also be prosecuted.

The announcement came after Abhisit had pleaded over the weekend for an end to the street protests that have paralyzed parts of the capital and for an acceptance of his reconciliation plan that offers new elections a year ahead of schedule.

Nattawut began his announcement by saying protesters “unconditionally accept” Abhisit’s offer to dissolve Parliament in late September ahead of November elections. He then went on to list a number of demands, including that Suthep face charges for a deadly April 10 clash between soldiers and protesters.

More than two dozen Red Shirt leaders already face a variety of charges, ranging from violating the terms of a state of emergency to weapons violations and assaults on government officials. The most serious charges, related to disruption of public transport services, infrastructure and telecommunications, are covered by terrorism statutes and are punishable by up to 20 years in jail and 1 million baht ($31,000) fines.

Nattawut also demanded that the TV channel of the Red Shirts — formally the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, or UDD — be allowed back on air before they end their protests. The government has shut down the channel’s satellite link and dozens of Web sites that it says have incited hatred in the country.

Government Spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said that Suthep would meet with the Department of Special Investigation on Tuesday to discuss complaints that had been filed about the April 10 violence. Abhisit, who unlike Suthep is a member of Parliament, would need to have his immunity as a lawmaker waived to answer any summons.

“This is not a response to the UDD’s demand,” Panitan said. “This is what the prime minister and the deputy prime minister have agreed upon — to enter the judicial process. It’s already their intention.”

Some Red Shirt leaders retorted later that they would not accept Abhisit and Suthep turning themselves into the DSI — Thailand’s FBI — which has been very active in publicly linking the protesters to alleged “terrorists” who have carried out armed attacks.

They want the men to deal with the regular national police, who are generally considered more sympathetic to the protest group.

However, such remarks from the stage by protest leaders do not always reflect the group’s formal position.

The Red Shirt leaders also emphasized their desire that there be no “double standard” in pursuing justice, arguing that any measure applied to them — such as denial of bail — also be applied to their adversaries on the government side.

“It’s a negotiating tactic: ‘If we get prosecuted, you too must be prosecuted,’” said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of Institute of Security and International Studies at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University.

Overall, he said, the situation is moving in a positive direction because at least both sides are negotiating — rather than fighting in the streets.

Viengrat Nethipo, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University, noted that since the government cannot legitimately intervene in the justice system, it cannot openly tell the Red Shirts not to worry about being granted bail.

However, the political morass might be untangled through “a backdoor negotiation,” she said.

Despite hopes that the prolonged protests would end without further bloodshed, two attacks Friday night killed two policemen and wounded 13 people. The violence occurred just outside the protest occupation zone in Bangkok’s prime commercial district, where upscale shopping centers and hotels have been shuttered for weeks.

The Red Shirts include the rural and urban poor as well as pro-democracy advocates. Many are supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a populist leader who was ousted in a 2006 military coup and charged with corruption and abuse of power.

The protesters say Abhisit’s coalition government came to power illegitimately through manipulation of the courts and the backing of the powerful military.

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Associated Press writers Thanyarat Doksone and Grant Peck contributed to this report, with additional research by Warangkana Tempati.