People's council not possible: PM

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday rejected the anti-government protesters’ demand for a “people’s council”, saying it was “not possible”.

This is the first time that she has publicly responded to demands raised by key protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.

“The government is happy to listen to requests from all groups, but this request for a ‘people’s council’ cannot be implemented under the current Constitution,” Yingluck said yesterday. 

However, opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva insisted his party is determined to go all out to overthrow the “Thaksin regime”, saying the government had lost legitimacy. He said the Democrats are ready to support popular movements conducted within constitutional limits. 

Suthep has announced that the protesters’ ultimate goal is to end the “Thaksin regime” and replace it with a “people’s council”.

In her national address on television at 1.50pm yesterday, Yingluck called on the protesters to stop rallying at government offices and participate in a government-initiated forum.

She reiterated that her government was democratically elected and has been using peaceful means to deal with the protesters. She also said that she would be happy to speak in person to the protest leader. Early yesterday, she told the press that dissolving the House was not an option. 

“Everybody knows about the protesters’ stance, and there must be other methods of protests rather than rallying, closing government agencies and other symbolic steps they have taken. I’d like to ask for cooperation and my government affirms that a forum would be the best solution,” she said.

Meanwhile, pressure is mounting as anti-government protesters cut water and power supply at the Royal Thai Police headquarters, including the nearby Office of Police Forensic Science in the compound of Police General Hospital, yesterday afternoon as part of their campaign to end the so-called Thaksin regime. 

The cutting off of utilities to Office of Police Forensic Science prompted Pol Maj-General Piya Uthayo, spokesman for the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order, to urge the protesters to have mercy on the sick. 

National Human Rights Commissioner Parinya Sirisarakarn also condemned this action, saying that it was a serious human-rights violation, though she said this might have been carried out by an ill-intentioned third party to cause chaos. 

At 2.10pm yesterday, Piya told the press that the police headquarters and the hospital had to rely on reserve power supply, which was limited, adding that the protesters should empathise with the patients. He said the police had made preparations to evacuate the 400 patients, especially the dozen or so critically ill ones, but hoped they would not have to resort to that. 

 

Power restored

He also warned that police had photographs of those who had cut the power line on Henri Dunant Road. At the time of going to the press, it was reported that power had been restored at the hospital, while the other two sites continued to use reserve power. 

The protests, meanwhile, continued unabated outside the police headquarters and the nearby Chalermpao and Ratchaprasong intersections.

Separately, former Democrat MP Thaworn Senneam said the protesters would leave their key rally site at Democracy Monument tomorrow and return to mark His Majesty the King’s birthday. He said the rallies at Government Complex and the Finance Ministry would continue. Thaworn is one of the core leaders of the Civil Movement for Democracy (CMD). 

However, Satit Wongnongtaey, another CMD leader who is based at Democracy Monument, said the rallies at the three venues will continue uninterrupted. The CMD is expected to march to Pheu Thai Party headquarters on Phetchaburi Road today. 

The Students and People’s Network for Thailand’s Reform, whose key rally site is Nang Lerng, will head for an undisclosed venue today, its leader said. 

So far, anti-government protests are being held at five venues – Democracy Monument. Nang Lerng intersection, Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge, the Finance Ministry and Government Complex.

In a separate incident, three anti-government protesters in Pathum Thani were attacked and injured by red-shirt supporters yesterday as they were on their way to rally at the city hall.