Red shirts and Thai government reconcile? by Zuzana Zelenakova

Thai protesters known as red shirts agreed Tuesday to try to cooperate with the government in order to prevent more casualties. So far, 27 people were killed in various clashes between the protesters and the government forces. "Red Shirt leaders unanimously agree to join, and welcome, the reconciliation roadmap proposed by the prime minister to prevent further loss of life," announced protest leader Veera Musikapong. People of Thailand hope this could be an indicator that the end of the crisis is near. However, the red shirts are still occupying the centre of Bangkok asking Prime Minister Abhisit to dissolve the parliament and call immediate elections. Abhisit said he coul! d hold elections in mid-November if all the parties agreed. Such a proposal is not what the protesters would like to hear and they repeatedly called on the premier to set the date he will dissolve the parliament. Then the Election Commission would schedule the poll. "We will continue the rally until Abhisit says clearly when he will dissolve the House. Then we will discuss our next move," said another protest leader Jatuporn Prompan. "Reconciliation must be achieved not by intimidation and the use of force but with complete freedom." The red shirts further demanded that the government do not involve the king and the monarchy in general in the conflict. 82-year-old king Bhumibol Adulyadej, the longest reigning monarch in the world, spent past months in hospital where he was admitted with fatigue and loss of appetite. According to the palace he is recovering from lung inflammation. So far, he has failed to address the crisis in the country directly and is not prepared to take! an active role as he did in the past in similar cases. The pr! otesters have been occupying the shopping district in central Bangkok since April 3 and have no intentions to leave for now.

related story (sgx17181): http://www.france24.com/en/20100504-abhisit-thailand-red-shi...

by Zuzana Zelenakova for Cantell TV (http://cantell.tv)

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