Yingluck wants Prayuth to arrange talks

Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has urged army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha to help arrange private talks with PDRC leader Suthep Thuagsuban, but sources say Mr Suthep is not happy with the army chief at the moment.

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Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha adjusts his hat yesterday. He has reportedly been asked by caretaker prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to mediate truce talks between the caretaker government and the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC). APICHIT JINAKUL

Yingluck pushes for truce talks: Source

PM urges Prayuth to mediate with Suthep

Wassana Nanuam

Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has urged army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha to mediate truce talks between the caretaker government and the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), a source says.

The caretaker prime minister made her call during a meeting on Wednesday with Gen Prayuth which sparked wide speculation and reportedly upset PDRC secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban.

Ms Yingluck abruptly cancelled her trip to Khon Kaen and met the army chief at the Royal Thai Air Force headquarters.

The source said the caretaker prime minister is hoping to negotiate with Mr Suthep and wants Gen Prayuth to mediate. She prefers the talks to be held behind closed doors, not in public as proposed by Mr Suthep.

Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinwatra steps across the threshold of Phrat That Choeng Chum pagoda at Wat Phrat That Choeng Chum in Sakon Nakhon's Muang district yesterday during her official tour of the the Northeast. CHANAT KATANYU

The caretaker prime minister said the talks are aimed at seeking popular support rather than trying to resolve political differences and end the stalemate.

Gen Prayuth told Ms Yingluck that he has made several attempts to convince Mr Suthep to hold talks but the protest leader does not want them to be held in private, the source said.

Last year, Ms Yingluck and Mr Suthep met in the presence of military leaders and the meeting ended without any resolution.

Ms Yingluck recently called on the protest leader to go to the negotiating table. Mr Suthep scoffed at that and told her to join him in a public debate to be broadcast live on television.

The source said Gen Prayuth informed the caretaker prime minister of the mid-year military reshuffle in which some senior military officers involved in the 2010 military crackdown would be promoted to key posts.

Gen Prayuth was concerned these officers would come under attack from the red shirts for their role in that military operation and their promotion might irk the red shirts, the source said.

The army chief hoped the prime minister would help the red shirts understand the officers acted under orders and that none held personal grudges against the red-shirt demonstrators.

The source said the caretaker prime minister promised to talk to the red-shirt leaders and said she would not interfere in the military reshuffle.

A source close to the PDRC said the PDRC leader is "upset" with Gen Prayuth's role. Instead of pressuring the prime minister to step down, Mr Suthep complained the army chief allowed Ms Yingluck, as defence minister, to discuss the military reshuffle.

Mr Suthep has so far made friendly gestures to the military when he has asked the military to stop supporting the Yingluck administration.

PDRC leader Suthep Thuagsuban, seen here speaking at the Lumpini Park rally site last night, is reported to be unhappy with Gen. Prayuth. PATIPAT JANTHONG

"Everyone [PDRC core members] are upset that Gen Prayuth let Ms Yingluck chair the Defence Council meeting and talk about the reshuffle, when she has no legitimacy nor power to do so," the source said.

The source said Mr Suthep will not negotiate with Ms Yingluck because it will only serve the prime minister's interests. The PDRC secretary-general sees the proposed talks as nothing but an attempt to prolong her stay in power.

The source said Gen Prayuth may now come under heavy criticism by the PDRC.

"He doesn't do anything. He simply leaves it to the court and independent agencies. It could be too late," the source said.

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