Reds want US Embassy to pressure govt
RED-SHIRT leaders have urged the United States Embassy to help pressure the Thai government into adhering to the political road map, a source from the movement said yesterday. US charge d’affaires Patrick Murphy had met with red-shirt leaders “many times”
They discussed important issues, such as Thailand’s new constitution, said the source, who declined to be named.
“We also raised matters that needed their help. For instance, we asked them to tell the government to stick to the road map,” the source said.
“They can help us in this regard. In fact, they have already been stressing this with the government.”
Murphy reportedly met with a group of activists, including academic Nidhi Eoseewong, on Wednesday and yesterday.
The source said such dialogues usually took place secretly, as both sides did their best to avoid publicity.
“I don’t know why this time news of the meetings was leaked. It could be that they took a commercial flight this time,” the source said.
Murphy and other embassy officials had earlier met with red-shirt leaders and other groups of activists involved in the recent political crisis. Red-shirt leader Korkaew Pikulthong, who is also a politician from the Pheu Thai Party, said it was normal for foreign missions to meet with various groups of people to discuss topics of mutual interest, including progress on drafting the new charter.
The foreign embassy officials that he had talked to had also sought his opinion on the new draft charter, he said.
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