Thai PM faces negligence charges as crisis shows no sign of ending

Friday, 28 February 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Thai protest leader says willing to talk with PM

Reuters: Thailand’s anti-corruption agency brings charges of negligence against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday as anti-government protesters demand her ouster in a standoff marred by violence that shows no sign of coming to an end. The charges relate to a disastrous rice subsidy scheme that paid farmers above the market price and has run out of funds, adding to the government’s woes as farmers - normally the prime minister’s biggest supporters - demand their money. More than 300 government supporters gathered outside the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) in north Bangkok where the charges were due to be brought, as riot police stood guard inside the three-storey complex.

Some of Yingluck’s supporters threatened to seal off the grounds with cement in a symbolic show of resistance to the legal action against her. The anti-government protesters elsewhere in the city, whose disruption of a general election this month has left Thailand in paralysis, want to topple Yingluck and erase the influence of her brother, ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, seen by many as the real power in the country. Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said he was willing to appear in a live television debate with Yingluck after weeks of refusing any form of talks. “Just tell me when and where,” he told supporters. “Give us two chairs and a microphone and transmit it live on television so the people can see.” Yingluck gave a guarded response to the proposal. “If I talk to Suthep, will they stop protesting and will we be able to hold elections?” she told reporters in the town of Chiang Mai in the north, a Thaksin stronghold. A general election this month was disrupted by the protesters and is unlikely to be completed for many weeks. The protesters want to set up a “people’s council” of unspecified worthy people to spearhead political reform before new polls are held, hoping that will stop parties loyal to the self-exiled Thaksin winning. They have been on Bangkok’s streets since November and have blocked main intersections for weeks to press their case.