BANGKOK, Dec 3 - Thailand's yellow-clad movement, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), on Friday postponed its protest planned for next week against the Thai Constitution amendment regarding the requirement of Parliamentary approval for international treaties to next month, citing it's close the king's birthday celebrations.
The PAD earlier announced the group's rally on December to oppose the charter amendment on Article 190 regarding the requirement for parliamentary approval on any treaty made with other countries, saying the move may favour Parliament's endorsement of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) meeting reports, which they claim will make Thailand lose territory to the neighbouring country.
Yellow Shirt leader retired Gen Chamlong Srimuang (pictured) however said on Friday that movement resolved that they will postpone their Dec 11 rally to Jan 25, starting from 10am on Ratchadamnoen Avenue.
As the celebrations to mark His Majesty the King's 84th birthday on Dec 5 will take place between Dec 1-9, Gen Chamlong said the planned rally on Dec 11 is quite close to the festive events. The PAD wants December to be the month of happiness, at the same time, the southern region is also facing flood situation, so the group's mass protest will be delayed until Jan 25.
Gen Chamlong added the group will travel across the country to give correct information on the protest to the public.
The protest leader however raised their demands that the government must withdraw Thailand from the World Heritage Convention, and revoke the Memorandum of Understanding signed with Cambodia in 2000 as well as its supporting documents.
"If the government fails to respond our demands, we need to stage a mass protest, as in our lifetime, nothing is worse than Thailand losing its territory to Cambodia." said Gen Chamlong.
The PAD leader also pledged to prolong the Jan 25 demonstration to pressure the government to respond their requests.
Informed of the PAD demand, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva asserted on Friday that the government cannot withdraw from the World Heritage Convention.
He reasoned that the World Heritage committee has listened to Thailand’s stance during the past wo years, while the kingdom needs to use this forum to communicate with the world community.
As he earlier said he was seeking to talk with the PAD leaders before next week's rally, Mr Abhisit said he still wants to discuss with the protest leaders but the talk is yet set, as concerned officials of both sides are still discussing whether it will be held or not, with who and how. (MCOT online news)
Update: PAD postpones rally
* Published: 3/12/2010 at 02:40 PM
* Bangkok Post
The People's Alliance for Democracy has resolved to postpone its planned Bangkok rally from Dec 11 to Jan 25, PAD co-leader Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang said on Friday.
He said all core members of the PAD held a meeting and agreed.
The PAD initially planned to rally on Dec 11 at Makkawan Rangsan bridge on Ratchadamnern Road. The rally would now be postponed to Jan 25, starting at 10am, in front of the army headquarters on Ratchadamnern Nok road.
"We reached an agreement that Dec 11 is too close to Dec 5, the King's birthday. We want December to be the month of happiness. Moreover, there is still flooding in the South. So, we have rescheduled the rally for Jan 25," Maj-Gen Chamlong said.
"From now, we will be on tour to every part of the country to tell the people that if we do not do anything we will lose 1.8 million rai of land and marine resources to Cambodia," he said, a reference to the PAD's stand against parliament's approval for three memorandums of meetings of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission.
A joint House-Senate committee has been set up to look into the three JBC memos.
Maj-Gen Chamlong said that on Nov 2 the PAD called a rally in haste - for fear that Thailand would lose its territory to Cambodia - after the government tabled the three JBC memos in parliament when the South was badly hit by flooding.
"The PAD rally caused the government to postpone consideration of the memos. but postponement is not a way of solving the problem.
"We want the memos to be withdrawn from parliament. So we initially planned a rally for Dec 11," he said.
Maj-Gen Chamlong said at the Jan 25 rally the PAD would call for the government to withdraw from the World Heritage Committee and revoke the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding and all related documents signed with Cambodia.
"If our demand is not met, the rally will turn out to be a massive one. In our lifetime, there is nothing worse than losing our territory to Cambodia.
"The Jan 25 rally will be full scale and prolonged, with more people taking part than before.
The government must do its duty, otherwise the rally will not be called off," he added.
The PAD earlier announced the group's rally on December to oppose the charter amendment on Article 190 regarding the requirement for parliamentary approval on any treaty made with other countries, saying the move may favour Parliament's endorsement of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) meeting reports, which they claim will make Thailand lose territory to the neighbouring country.
Yellow Shirt leader retired Gen Chamlong Srimuang (pictured) however said on Friday that movement resolved that they will postpone their Dec 11 rally to Jan 25, starting from 10am on Ratchadamnoen Avenue.
As the celebrations to mark His Majesty the King's 84th birthday on Dec 5 will take place between Dec 1-9, Gen Chamlong said the planned rally on Dec 11 is quite close to the festive events. The PAD wants December to be the month of happiness, at the same time, the southern region is also facing flood situation, so the group's mass protest will be delayed until Jan 25.
Gen Chamlong added the group will travel across the country to give correct information on the protest to the public.
The protest leader however raised their demands that the government must withdraw Thailand from the World Heritage Convention, and revoke the Memorandum of Understanding signed with Cambodia in 2000 as well as its supporting documents.
"If the government fails to respond our demands, we need to stage a mass protest, as in our lifetime, nothing is worse than Thailand losing its territory to Cambodia." said Gen Chamlong.
The PAD leader also pledged to prolong the Jan 25 demonstration to pressure the government to respond their requests.
Informed of the PAD demand, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva asserted on Friday that the government cannot withdraw from the World Heritage Convention.
He reasoned that the World Heritage committee has listened to Thailand’s stance during the past wo years, while the kingdom needs to use this forum to communicate with the world community.
As he earlier said he was seeking to talk with the PAD leaders before next week's rally, Mr Abhisit said he still wants to discuss with the protest leaders but the talk is yet set, as concerned officials of both sides are still discussing whether it will be held or not, with who and how. (MCOT online news)
Update: PAD postpones rally
* Published: 3/12/2010 at 02:40 PM
* Bangkok Post
The People's Alliance for Democracy has resolved to postpone its planned Bangkok rally from Dec 11 to Jan 25, PAD co-leader Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang said on Friday.
He said all core members of the PAD held a meeting and agreed.
The PAD initially planned to rally on Dec 11 at Makkawan Rangsan bridge on Ratchadamnern Road. The rally would now be postponed to Jan 25, starting at 10am, in front of the army headquarters on Ratchadamnern Nok road.
"We reached an agreement that Dec 11 is too close to Dec 5, the King's birthday. We want December to be the month of happiness. Moreover, there is still flooding in the South. So, we have rescheduled the rally for Jan 25," Maj-Gen Chamlong said.
"From now, we will be on tour to every part of the country to tell the people that if we do not do anything we will lose 1.8 million rai of land and marine resources to Cambodia," he said, a reference to the PAD's stand against parliament's approval for three memorandums of meetings of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission.
A joint House-Senate committee has been set up to look into the three JBC memos.
Maj-Gen Chamlong said that on Nov 2 the PAD called a rally in haste - for fear that Thailand would lose its territory to Cambodia - after the government tabled the three JBC memos in parliament when the South was badly hit by flooding.
"The PAD rally caused the government to postpone consideration of the memos. but postponement is not a way of solving the problem.
"We want the memos to be withdrawn from parliament. So we initially planned a rally for Dec 11," he said.
Maj-Gen Chamlong said at the Jan 25 rally the PAD would call for the government to withdraw from the World Heritage Committee and revoke the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding and all related documents signed with Cambodia.
"If our demand is not met, the rally will turn out to be a massive one. In our lifetime, there is nothing worse than losing our territory to Cambodia.
"The Jan 25 rally will be full scale and prolonged, with more people taking part than before.
The government must do its duty, otherwise the rally will not be called off," he added.
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