Thai Government Rejects Mediation

The Thai government has rejected a U.N.-backed mediation plan aimed at settling the increasingly bloody conflict between protesters and the regime. The plan was to pull troops back from the protesters’ encampment in Bangkok and get some dialogue going.

The official explanation: ” ... No Thai government has ever let anyone intervene with our internal affairs.” Meanwhile, at least 29 people have died since Thursday. —JCL

The BBC:

Thai officials have ruled out UN-backed mediation in an increasingly violent dispute with anti-government protesters on the streets of Bangkok.

A protest leader suggested the talks, but a government spokesman was quick to rebuff the offer, saying outside groups should not interfere.

At least 29 people have died since Thursday, when soldiers and police moved in to shift the demonstrators.

The protesters, known as red-shirts, have been camped in Bangkok for months.

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news.bbc.co.uk

Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn insisted that no outside help was needed and said flatly, “We reject their [protesters’] demands for U.N. mediation.”