BANGKOK, 26 January 2014 The Secretary-General of the National Security Council has revealed that he has conducted a meeting with government officials to assemble a team to negotiate the with People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protesters, in order to reopen blockaded government facilities.
According to Lieutenant General Paradorn Pattanathabutr, the Secretary-General of the National Security Council, the team to negotiate with the PDRC protesters beginning on 27 January, 2014 will comprise Deputy Royal Thai Police Commissioner-General Police Major General Adul Narongsak, representatives from the armed forces, government agencies, the Public Relations Department, and the media.
The team will be tasked with negotiating with the PDRC protesters who have blocked government facilities, in order to reopen those facilities. Negotiations will begin at Government Complex on Chaeng Wattana Road in the morning. In the afternoon, the team will negotiate with protesters at Kasetsart University. The PDRC leaders will be given 24 hours to consider the government’s demands. Then the team will meet with the protest leaders at Soi Aree the next day, January 28; at Makkawan Rangsan Bridge and Rama 8 Bridge on 31 January.
The Prime Minister has urged the negotiating team to comply with all laws and international standards, avoid violence, and create understanding among protesters, said Paradon, adding that the negotiations are not meant to reclaim government facilities, but are aimed at allowing civil servants to return to work. He also affirmed that no political branch will be involved in the negotiations.
