THAILAND: The Thai army says a crisis meeting of political leaders held the day after the army declared martial law, was inconclusive. The group is expected to meet again on Thursday

Record ID: 694982

  • Title: THAILAND: The Thai army says a crisis meeting of political leaders held the day after the army declared martial law, was inconclusive. The group is expected to meet again on Thursday
  • Date: 21st May 2014
  • Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (MAY 21, 2014) (REUTERS) SOLDIERS LINING UP IN FRONT OF THAI ARMY CLUB, HEADQUARTERS OF ARMY'S PEACEKEEPING COMMAND CENTRE SOLDIERS STANDING SOLDIERS PUTTING UP BARRIERS EXTERIOR OF ARMY CLUB VARIOUS OF MEDIA GATHERED FOR NEWS CONFERENCE ARMY OFFICIALS SITTING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) DEPUTY ARMY SPOKESPERSON, SRICHAN NGATHONG, SAYING: "All of the seven parties have agreed on one thing, which is to take back all that has been discussed today, and to make it happen as soon as possible because the Thai public are waiting to see how the country will move forward. At least they agree to return happiness to the Thai people as soon as possible." THAI OPPOSITION LEADER, ABHISIT VEJJAJIVA, GETTING IN CAR SOLDIERS STANDING CAR LEAVING ARMY CLUB'S FRONT ENTRANCE RED-SHIRT LEADER, JATUPORN PROMPAN, GETTING IN CAR CAR LEAVING ARMY CLUB ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTEST LEADER, SUTHEP THAUGSUBAN, GETTING IN CAR CAR LEAVING ARMY CLUB SOLDIERS STAND GUARDING THAI ARMY CLUB SOLDIERS STANDING CAR LEAVING ARMY CLUB
  • Embargoed: 5th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA57CP0EB952HEWDKPMGSXDFSB1
  • Story Text: A seven-party meeting between key political factions in Thailand ended without agreement on Wednesday (May 21).
    The crisis talks were aimed at ending confrontation a day after the country's army declared martial law. Issues raised during the meeting included how to reform the political system - a demand made by anti-government protesters - and ending demonstrations that have sparked violence, disrupted business and scared off tourists.
    Although the military denied Tuesday's (May 20) surprise intervention amounted to a coup, army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who chaired the meeting, appeared to be setting the agenda by forcing groups and organisations with a central role in the crisis to talk.
    An army spokesperson said all sides would go away to think about what had been discussed and try to work out a consensus solution.

    "All of the seven parties have agreed on one thing, which is to take back all that has been discussed today, and to make it happen as soon as possible because the Thai public are waiting to see how the country will move forward. At least they agree to return happiness to the Thai people as soon as possible," said Srichan Ngathong.
    A leader of the pro-government "red shirt" political group, Thida Thawornseth, told Reuters that there was no commitment from either side to stop protesting.
    Puchong Nutrawong, secretary-general of the Election Commission, who was also at the talks, said all sides would meet again on Thursday.
    Thailand has been riven by rivalry between populist former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the royalist establishment for nearly 10 years.
    Thaksin, a former telecommunications billionaire who won the loyalty of the rural and urban poor, has lived in self-exile since 2008 but still exerts a huge influence, most recently through a government run by his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra.
    Yingluck was forced to step down as premier by a court two weeks ago, but her caretaker government remains in power, despite the declaration of martial law and six months of sometimes violent protests aimed at ousting it.
    The turmoil has driven the country to the brink of recession and even raised fears of civil war.
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