CHIANG MAI - Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday gave a lukewarm response to a proposed live TV debate with anti-government leader Suthep Thaugsuban, making it clear it was unlikely to happen.
Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is greeted by supporters during her visit to Chiang Mai on Thursday. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)
Ms Yingluck said in Chiang Mai that she favoured negotiations to end the conflict, but questioned the basis of the proposed talks with her political rival.
''What is the framework for the meeting. Is it within the framework of the constitution? If not, the problem will not be over,'' she said after the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) leader challenged her to a face-to face debate earlier today.
Ms Yingluck, who is on a visit to the northern province, said the PDRC must end their protest rally first. ''What people want to see is the end of the demonstrations,'' she said.
Mr Suthep said earlier on Thursday he would agree to talks, on the condition he sat down face-to-face with Ms Yingluck and their negotiation was televised live nationwide.
PRDC leader Suthep Thaugsuban challenges caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to a live debate on TV. (Photo by Thanarak Khoonton)
He said he was ready to represent the "great mass uprising", or muan maha prachachon, in talks with Ms Yingluck, so long as they were the only two people taking part in the debate.
The talks must also be broadcast live on television stations nationwide so people throughout the country could bear witness, he said.
"Just tell me the date and time. But the talks must be one-on-one and broadcast live on all television channels to allow people all over the country to hear," Mr Suthep said.
PDRC spokesman Akanat Promphan said Mr Suthep's proposal followed the caretaker prime minister's call for the PDRC to cooperate in ending the crisis.
''The negotiation must be transparent to the public and it must be one-on-one, to show that she has full authority to make a decision,'' the spokesman said in an interview with FM101 radio station. ''It must not be a closed-door meeting.''
''We have made clear our position. It's now up to Ms Yingluck,'' he added.
The premier's response seemed to put a damper on the latest attempt to find a solution to the upheaval, which has dragged on since the Pheu Thai government's attempt to force through a blanket amnesty bill in the House around 4am on Oct 31.
Another option being promoted is to bring in the United Nations as mediator for talks.
Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said on Thursday that he had drafted an official invitation letter ready to send to UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon. He now believed the UN chief was the best choice for a mediation process.
Mr Surapong said on Wednesday that he had spoken with Mr Ban, and would make a proposal to the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) to involve him in negotiations.
The PDRC on Thursday rejected the plan, saying that the caretaker deputy prime minister ''missed the point''.
The conflict is an internal affair of Thailand, PDRC spokesman Akanat said.
He said the PDRC would not oppose the UN if the organisation comes to Thailand to probe increasing human rights violations, including the use of war weapons against peaceful demonstrations and the deaths of children.
''That should be the UN mission,'' he said.
Four children were killed on the weekend, two in Khao Saming district, Trat, when attackers fired bullets at demonstrators at a rally. Another two died after an M79 landed near a PDRC rally site at Ratchaprasong intersection.