Talks
on forum end in deadlock
Protesters object to Channel 11 venue
Bangkok Post, Aug 4,2000
The government and the Assembly of the
Poor yesterday failed to agree on the venue of a public forum to address
problems of villagers.
The government wants the forum, scheduled for Monday, to take place at
the state-run Channel 11 television station, while the assembly insists it
be held in the conference hall of Silpakorn University or Chulalongkorn
University.
The deadlock forced Amnuay Patise, the government's chief negotiator,
to call off yesterday's talks with the assembly's representatives.
Asked why Channel 11 was considered more suitable than any other
places, Mr Amnuay only said: "Because it is".
Alongkorn Polabut, the prime minister's secretary, said the government
had already bowed to 99% of the assembly's demands on the forum. "The
only 1% we cannot yield is the choice of Channel 11," he said.
Paijit Silarak, an adviser to the assembly, said he suspected the
government feared its use of tricks would be uncovered if the forum was to
take place elsewhere.
But Akapol Sorasuchart, the government spokesman, said the government
chose the TV station because it did not want cabinet ministers to be
jeered and booed at by protesters. Should that happen at the station, the
situation could be brought under control, he said. The government also did
not want a repeat of last week's incident in Hat Yai district when a
public forum on the Thai-Malaysian gas pipeline project had to be
suspended after project opponents tried to break into the conference hall
where the meeting was being held.
Meanwhile, about 400 protesting laid-off workers of Thai-Durable
Textiles yesterday set up makeshift camp in front of Government House.
Adisai Mangkornkuthee, 41, one of the workers, complained the middle
class in Bangkok had no sympathy for them.
Mr Adisai was referring to reports that many Bangkokians were
condemning the protesters gathering in front of Government House for
having caused severe traffic jams.
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