By SETH MYDANS & THOMAS FULLER
BANGKOK - The government offered safe passage on Sunday for any protesters who wished to leave a downtown site where they have camped for six weeks, and a protest leader said they would be free to leave.
After three days of wild street fighting, the protest leader, Nattawut Saikua, also offered to withdraw militant fighters from the streets and to negotiate if the government also called a cease-fire and withdrew its troops. That offer suggested a closer relationship with the violent wing of the protests than Nattawut had earlier acknowledged.
But he put forward a condition that was immediately rejected by the government, insisting that any talks be mediated by the United Nations. Such a condition would have legitimized the protesters as an internationally recognized party to talks.
Protesters have warned of a wider uprising if they are attacked, and the government on Sunday extended a state of emergency to five more provinces, in addition to Bangkok and 17 provinces that were already covered.
The violence began after protest leaders rejected a government offer of an early election, which had been their initial demand. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva then withdrew the offer, halted negotiations and ordered troops to blockade the protest site, but not invade it. Troops moved in Thursday, and militants outside the site challenged them.
Many protesters at the site insisted late on Sunday that they would stay.
After three days of wild street fighting, the protest leader, Nattawut Saikua, also offered to withdraw militant fighters from the streets and to negotiate if the government also called a cease-fire and withdrew its troops. That offer suggested a closer relationship with the violent wing of the protests than Nattawut had earlier acknowledged.
But he put forward a condition that was immediately rejected by the government, insisting that any talks be mediated by the United Nations. Such a condition would have legitimized the protesters as an internationally recognized party to talks.
Protesters have warned of a wider uprising if they are attacked, and the government on Sunday extended a state of emergency to five more provinces, in addition to Bangkok and 17 provinces that were already covered.
The violence began after protest leaders rejected a government offer of an early election, which had been their initial demand. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva then withdrew the offer, halted negotiations and ordered troops to blockade the protest site, but not invade it. Troops moved in Thursday, and militants outside the site challenged them.
Many protesters at the site insisted late on Sunday that they would stay.
1 comment:
thai and siam soldiers robbed, tortured, and killed many Khmer refugees during 1975-1991 by shooting their victims in their limbs leaving some partially lifeless before dying. them scumtrash thai/siam crooks will get what they deserve as karma gradually takes effect on their country and people with crook's mentality. they sold their soul to the devil for teaching in their school text books wrongfully claiming Khmer ancient temples, land, artifacts, tradition, and culture.
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