Chavalit still positive about PAD negotiations

Written by Writer on Monday, October 6th, 2008

Chavalit still positive about PAD negotiations

The Deputy Prime Minister, Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, said the arrest of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) leader, Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang, would not affect the negotiations between the government and the PAD.

Gen Chavalit said Maj Gen Chamlong’s arrest on Sunday was not prearranged by the government but the police had to apprehend him since he was already issued an arrest warrant.

Gen Chavalit believed Maj Gen Chamlong did not plan to topple the government’s effort to negotiate with the PAD and to gather a mass demonstration by being arrested after casting his ballot in the Bangkok governor election on Sunday. Maj Gen Chamlong genuinely wanted to vote in the election, he reckoned.

Although Maj Gen Chamlong was arrested, other PAD leaders such as Mr Sondhi Limthongkul and Mr Somsak Kosaisuk can still negotiate with the government, the deputy premier said.

He believed the PAD leaders have good intentions towards the country, and he is ready to work without feeling disheartened.

Gen Chavalit said he had talks about the national situation with ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He said Pol Lt Col Thaksin is also a Thai person, and it would be normal for him to be worried about his country.

However, another PAD leader Pibhop Thongchai said the group will have to revise its plan to negotiate with the government after two of the group’s key figures, Maj Gen Chamlong and Mr Chaiwat Sinsuwong, were detained. He accused the government for being insincere and having hidden intentions.

Mr Pibhob said the PAD will wait for the Court of Appeals’ ruling whether to revoke the arrest warrants of nine PAD members on insurrection charges at 2pm Monday, and the group will announce its stance to its supporters at Government House later in the evening.

Bangkok Post