Military leaders not taking sides (updated)

12 ธันวาคม 2556

Update: The Supreme Commander has decided to organise a meeting with Suthep Thuagsuban after all, after the rally leader held a similar meeting with the private sector yesterday.

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Rally leader Suthep Thuagsuban returned to Democracy Monument last night, telling the crowd there that he would be meeting with Supreme Commander Tanasak Patimapragorn. THITI WANNAMONTHA

Friday morning update

It is not exactly the meeting that rally leader Suthep Thuagsuban asked for, but it is more than it looked like he would get yesterday morning.

Supreme Commander Tanasak Patimapragorn has agreed to meet with anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban and hear the People's Democratic Reform Committee's (PDRC) proposals for national reform.

Speaking to demonstrators at the Democracy Monument yesterday evening, Mr Suthep said Gen Tanasak had agreed to meet him and PDRC core leaders at 3pm tomorrow at the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF) Headquarters.

Mr Suthep said he will try to explain the committee's positions and its national reform proposals to the military leaders, and hopes the military top brass will decide to "stand alongside the people".

The RTAF last night issued a statement saying the PDRC's request to explain their reform plans would lead to an exchange of opinions that will bring about a peaceful solution.

The RTAF would invite representatives from state agencies, academics and all stakeholders to attend the forum where PDRC leaders would explain its national reform process which would be followed by a Q&A session.

An RTAF source said red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship representatives will also be invited to the talks and that Gen Tanasak will act as moderator.

Thursday 20:10

Protest leaders led by Suthep Thaugsuban hold talks with business leaders on Thursday to explain their fight against the government. THITI WANNAMONTHA

Anti-government rally leader Suthep Thuagsuban never did get to meet military and police leaders today, but he did have a session with seven business organisations to explain his move on political reform. They included the Federation of Thai Industries, the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Thai Bankers Association and the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT).

Mr Suthep led other protest leaders to the meeting and unveiled the council in detail for the first time after he pushed for it in a month-long rally against the government.

The council will feature 300 members selected from all groups to be their representatives and another 100 experts to be appointed by the PDRC to work on political reform. They will be banned from politics for five years after accomplishing their duty.

Mr Suthep did not win any immediate support for his idea, but the business leaders did promise to discuss it with their colleagues.

11:45

There has been no word yet from the military top brass on whether they accept or reject the request by anti-government protest leaders for a meeting, People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) spokesman Akanat Prompan said on Thursday.

He said the armed forces commanders had not turned down the PDRC's request.

"We are still waiting for their reply. So far there has been no word from them," he said.

Rally leader Suthep Thuagsuban wants to explain the stance of anti-government protest leaders to military and police leaders today, but he is still wating for a reply. WEERAWONG WONGPREEDEE

Military leaders rebuff Suthep

Armed forces wary of siding with protesters

Top military leaders decided last night not to meet a group of anti-government protest leaders, saying it would be highly dangerous for the country if the military were seen as taking sides.

The decision was made after protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban announced his group was seeking a meeting with senior military and police leaders today in an apparent attempt to gain their support for his "political reform" push.

But the move stirred misgivings among the military top brass, who are concerned a meeting could lead to perceptions that the armed forces are siding with the protesters.

"This time we [the military] are between a lot of people on two sides, if you cannot clear up [such a stalemate] first, it's very dangerous," army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha told the Bangkok Post. "So we must be patient and keep calm and do everything carefully.

"All commanders made the decision together," he said.

Earlier in the day, Mr Suthep, the self-appointed People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) secretary-general, said the proposed meeting with the supreme commander and leaders of the army, navy, air force and police was necessary if protesters were to achieve their plans for political reform.

He said the meeting would help the military and police top brass understand what direction the PDRC's proposed political reforms will take.

He called for the meeting to take place before 8pm today.

"Some state officials may not understand the goal is to reform the country.

"These people have not had the chance to meet us, so we find it necessary to meet those in charge of security affairs and let them inquire about our approach ... so they can make a decision." he told about 1,000 protesters at the Nang Loeng rally stage.

His speech was broadcast to the Democracy Monument rally site on Ratchadamnoen Avenue where there were around 10,000 demonstrators.

Mr Suthep also said he will today meet with the leaders of seven private organisations and hear what they have to say about political reforms.

Mr Suthep also urged red shirts to join the PDRC's efforts to reform the country.

"If you say you love and fight to defend democracy, we are ready to end the division between us. Take off your red shirts and join us to reform the country together," he said.

Mr Suthep, however, insisted key red-shirt leaders such as Jatuporn Prompan, Nattawut Saikuar and Tida Tawornseth were not welcome to join.