Thailand’s Red Shirt leaders soften demands in quest of compromise

BANGKOK - Leaders of Thailand’s opposition United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), also known as the “Red Shirts”, have softened their stance and proposed a new deadline to the government.

UDD leader Veera Musikhapong said the Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s Government must dissolve the House in 30 days, and new elections be held 60 days after that. This should give the government 90 days to prepare.

Their previous stance was that the government must dissolve the House in 15 days.

The compromise offer came after the Red Shirt leaders allowed a group of foreign diplomats to observe their rally base at Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok on Friday.

Musikhapong further said the UDD leaders had reached a consensus on a new time frame out of concerns for the safety of the public.

“We are open to negotiation. We want to save lives and are ready to make sacrifices and negotiate,” The Bangkok Post quoted Musikhapong, as saying.

“This is a compromise time frame and the government should find it acceptable,” he added.

He also stressed that the UDD wanted the government to set up a committee to investigate the April 10 and April 22 attacks. (ANI)