Leaders of the red shirts yesterday announced that their rally to “bring down the elitist government” would continue following a deadlock in the truce talks with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The red shirts announced a plan for their third weekend march this Saturday to force an immediate dissolution of the House of Representatives. They also threatened to move on Parliament if soldiers were dispatched and road barriers set up around the compound when MPs convened for their meetings today and tomorrow.

In a statement read out by red-shirt leader Veera Musigapong at the protest site, the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship said its “fight” would continue until its goal was attained.

“We will continue our fight until we win,” Veera said, adding that the rally would remain peaceful and unarmed.

The statement also expressed regret at the unsuccessful end of the second round of talks between government figures and red-shirt leaders. It said the prime minister would have to take responsibility for any negative consequences from the failed talks.

During the broadcast session at the King Prajadhipok’s Institute, the red shirts’ representatives insisted on their demand for dissolution of the House of Representatives within 15 days – while the government’s representatives proposed that House dissolution could be achieved before the end of this year. The red shirts rejected the government’s offer for a third round of talks.

Veera told the red shirts yesterday the movement is led by a group of people, and not any individual. He said group leaders often made their decisions after discussion among themselves and based their decisions on demands from the public. The statement was aimed at countering allegations that fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra was pulling strings behind the red shirts.

Earlier yesterday, another protest leader Jatuporn Promphan announced the red shirts would hold another large rally on Saturday as part of their move to “further intensify the demonstration”. He said details of the event would be disclosed shortly. He said the protesters would try to remove any road barriers set up around Parliament and would demand a pullout of troops from the compound. Last week, opposition MPs from the Pheu Thai Party staged a noisy protest outside Parliament and boycotted House meetings due to a large presence of soldiers and several road barriers as part of tightened security.

Kwanchai Praipana, a red-shirt leader from Udon Thani, said yesterday he had changed his mind about leading more than 4,000 people from his Kon Rak Udon group to return home for a previously scheduled function. Kwanchai said he had second thoughts after talking with Thaksin on the phone.

He said Thaksin asked him to retain the 4,000 people at the protest site for five more days, adding that the ex-leader wanted an “end game” before Chakri Day next Tuesday. “I have to postpone the Kon Rak Udon’s function until April 15. About 3,000 more people from the group will come on 100 buses and it will cost another Bt800,000,” Kwanchai said.

Meanwhile, Korbsak Sabhavasu, the prime minister’s secretary-general, said the government would attempt to hold a third round of talks with the red-shirt leaders. When asked if he was still hopeful, he responded: “I never give up. I will have to try more.”

In a separate development, an explosion occurred shortly after 8pm last night at the Foundation of Statesman Prem Tinsulanonda in Dusit district. The explosion was believed to have been caused by a hand grenade that hit the foundation’s fence and destroyed plant pots. The foundation is located about 100 metres from the Privy Council president’s residence.

Later another explosion, believed to have been from a ping pong bomb, was reported at Sanam Luang.

Veteran politician Newin Chidchob advised MPs from the coalition Bhum Jai Thai Party to keep a low profile and allow the ruling Democrat Party to play the negotiating role, a source said.

Representatives from a group of academics who earlier called for a House dissolution, yesterday met with red shirt leaders and asked them to ease their demands for the government to dissolve the House within 15 days.

Also yesterday, senior Democrat adviser Banyat Bantadtan advised the government to prepare for more fights with the red shirts who appear to have grown in number and are better funded than previously expected, according to a party source.

DeputyPrime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban told a Democratic Party meeting that a roadmap had been completed for the next general elections, to be held on January 23, according to a source.

A senior military officer said the government would try to stay in power for as long as possible to be able to pass the budget bill to improve its popularity and to have a say in the annual transfers of state officials, particularly senior military officers.

 In the meantime, Thaksin would “go all out and spent a lot” in a bid to force the government out of power as soon as possible in order not to allow the government an advantage in the next general elections.

 News item courtesy of www.nationmultimedia.com