Abhisit's "Five Ways to Peace" Proposal

PM proposes Nov 14 poll date

Red shirt leaders push case for an amnesty

Published: 4/05/2010

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has offered to hold a general election on Nov 14 as part of a plan to achieve national reconciliation.

Mr Abhisit said in a television appearance last night for the first time a general election would be held on Nov14 - but only if five objectives underpinning a national conciliation were achieved.

They are: the monarchy must not be used as a tool in political conflicts; the country must be reformed by tackling economic disparities and inequality; the media must refrain from reports which exacerbate social or political conflicts; an independent fact-finding panel must be appointed to review fatal incidents involving security forces and protesters; and the reconciliation process must be carried out with the cooperation of all sides.

PM proposes Nov 14 poll date

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Last Chance for Peace

By TULSATHIT TAPTIM

The Nation

Published on May 4, 2010

PM urges reds to accept his offer to hold election on Nov 14 to avoid more bloodshed; red shirts to respond to govt's road map today and decide on future of Ratchaprasong protest

Is the light at the end of the tunnel that of a train coming our way? The answer depends on how the red shirts, who have been tired, dispirited and discredited, respond today to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's unexpected offer to hold a general election on November 14.

Whether the 30-minute national address last night is a game-changing moment will be known soon. As of now, the ball is squarely in the red shirts' court. The roars of the crowds at the Rajprasong intersection at the end of Abhisit's statements could mean anything, but from day one the protesters have never been the ones making decisions.

Optimists say the Rajprasong occupation may even end in a day or two. They see Abhisit's offer as a carrot being dangled before demoralised red leaders who have had their personal well-being threatened by possibly serious legal action and their image smeared by the Chulalongkorn Hospital invasion, arms seizures, as well as alleged links with armed militants.

The real "stick" is yet to come. On Sunday, an emergency Cabinet meeting was called to approve the possibility of an armed crackdown, which would almost surely be accompanied by terrorism charges against key leaders, who already face lesser accusations of violating the state of emergency law.

It was thus a good psychological moment for Abhisit to lay down his five-point "road map" on the table. "This is your graceful exit," was his unspoken message. Take it, or you will see armoured vehicles moving in through the other door.

Now, it's a matter of whether common sense prevails among the red shirts. They poured into Bangkok on March 12 knowing that the political calendar at that time tentatively set the general election for late next year. Abhisit virtually told the movement to think about it, now that he had agreed to reduce the waiting period by half.

Last chance for peace