Thai Premier Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday skipped her appearance before an anti-graft body over charges related to a populist rice-pledging scheme, even as she shot down anti-government protest movement’s conditional talk offer to end ongoing political deadlock.
The leader of Thailand’s anti-government protest movement said on Thursday that he is willing to negotiate to end the country’s political crisis, if the prime minister is willing to talk with him live, one-to-one, on every national television station.
The offer by Suthep Thaugsuban came as increasing violence associated with his group’s months-long protest has prompted fresh calls for negotiations. The protesters say they want Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to resign to make way for an unelected interim government to institute anti-corruption reforms.
Ms. Yingluck, who is in northern Thailand, responded that her government wants negotiations, but that the protesters must stop blocking elections and other constitutional processes.
Mr. Suthep’s offer was an evident ploy to offset criticism of his longstanding position that his movement would refuse negotiations, even as the government said it was open to them.
“The most important thing that everyone wants is the end of the protests and for the election to carry on, or else we cannot answer the questions from the international community of how we can protect democracy,” Ms. Yingluck told reporters in her hometown of Chiang Mai. She said her government was open to almost any approach, but deferred the question of whether she was willing to hold live televised talks.
The elections held earlier this month were disrupted by protesters and remain incomplete.
Although the protests have failed to meet self-proclaimed deadlines for success, pressure has been increasing on Ms. Yingluck from other quarters.
Several legal challenges could force her from office, and the judiciary has a record of hostility toward her and a willingness to bend over backward to rule in support of the protesters.
Thailand’s anti-graft commission on Thursday summoned Ms. Yingluck to hear charges of negligence for allegedly mishandling a government subsidy program. Her supporters blocked access and chain-locked one of the gates to the agency’s headquarters, so Ms. Yingluck’s legal representatives met commission members elsewhere to accomplish the formalities.
Ms. Yingluck could eventually face impeachment by the Senate or criminal charges if the National Anti-Corruption Commission delivers a final ruling against her. The agency is expected to issue its decision in one to two months.
The rice subsidy program a flagship policy of Ms. Yingluck’s administration that helped win the votes of millions of farmers has accumulated losses of at least $4.4 billion and has been dogged by corruption allegations. Payments to farmers have been delayed by many months.
Political violence has worsened recently, with shootings and grenade attacks at protest sites. Twenty-two people have died and hundreds have been hurt since November. The deaths of four children in attacks this past weekend caused widespread shock and sorrow, but seem to have only hardened the positions of both sides.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his increasing concern and reiterated his condemnation of the escalation of violence. He urged the parties to “engage as soon as possible in meaningful and inclusive dialogue toward ending the crisis and advancing genuine reform,” U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said.
“The secretary-general expresses his readiness to assist the parties and the Thai people in any way possible,” he said.
Caretaker Foreign Minister Surapong Towichakchaikul said this week that he would suggest inviting Mr. Ban Ki-Moon to visit Thailand to talk about how to resolve the political conflict.
The recent violence is the worst political bloodshed in Thailand since 2010 when protests by pro-Thaksin “Red Shirts” left more than 90 dead and nearly 1,900 injured in clashes and a military crackdown.
Meanwhile, the CMPO recommended that people stay home particularly in nighttime rather than join the anti-government protests, saying it would be difficult to find attackers if incidents were to occur.
CMPO member Tarit Pengdith said the suggestion was being made in the wake of increasing violence and attacks.
“We wish to suggest that people stay away from the protest sites and remain at home. There have been a series of violent incidents and attacks that have led to deaths and injuries. We believe that under the present circumstances, it is difficult to bring the attackers to justice and make them pay for the damage they cause,” Mr. Tarit said.
The weekend saw increased violence with shooting and grenade attacks by unidentified men near the rally sites in Bangkok and eastern Trat province, claiming four lives including three kids and wounding several others.
