BANGKOK, Dec 29 (TNA) – Red-clad demonstrators blocking the entrance to Thailand's Parliament forced House Speaker Chai Chidchob to postpone the delivery of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's policy statement scheduled at 9.30am to 2pm Monday afternoon.
The roads around Parliament were blocked and few MPs were able to enter the compound.
Mr. Chai said negotiations with the protesters were expected to continue. He expressed hope that the protesters would eventually open way for the members of parliament to pass in and out of the Parliament premises without harassment or being hindered.
However, if the attempt failed by 2 pm, the debate was expected to be further delayed.
The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), known as the Red Shirts, first started their demonstration protesting against the government at Sanam Luang on Sunday and late in the day moved to surround Parliament to prevent Prime Minister from delivering the government's policy statement.
The Red Shirts of the UDD investing and blocking access to Parliament appears to be a 'copycat' action following the earlier example of the Peoples' Alliance for Democracy, the whose Yellow Shirts came to represent opposition not only to deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, but to the successor administrations.
National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Patcharawat Wongsuwan met UDD leader Veera Musikapong, a veteran politician who is the core organiser of the Red Shirt demonstration Monday morning to negotiate the UDD opening a way for the MPs to enter Parliament by car.
They reached no agreement, but Mr. Veera said the members of either house, MPs and Senators alike, could enter Parliament only by foot, and that the UDD, which called on Prime Minister Abhisit to dissolve Parliament, would not obstruct but facilitate their walking through the UDD ranks to Parliament.
Another UDD core leader, former government spokesman Nuttawut Saikua, said that the demonstration at Parliament would continue during the government's plan to deliver its policy statement.
If the venue is changed, the UDD will follow the MPs to the new venue wherever the meeting is to be held, he said.
Mr. Veera reaffirmed that the UDD objected to the manner in which Mr. Abhisit reached the prime minister's post. (TNA)
Political News : Last Update : 12:00:30 29 December 2008 (GMT+7:00)
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