Thai prime minister offers pact, fall elections

The Red Shirts contend that Abhisit came to power illegitimately with the help of the army. They have called for Parliament to be dissolved within 30 days. An election must be held within 60 days of Parliament being dissolved.

A Red Shirt protest leader, Jatuporn Prompan, said the group would hold a meeting to discuss Abhisit’s offer and give its response today.

Abhisit spelled out a five-point reconciliation plan that he said takes into account the main grievances of the protesters, whose occupation of major streets in the capital since mid-March has caused economic havoc and further polarized the country. Thailand saw unity fade away after a 2006 coup ousted the elected prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin was ousted after protesters accused him of corruption and abuse of power.

Abhisit’s five points covered respect for the country’s constitutional monarchy; changes to solve problems of economic injustice; free but responsible media to be overseen by an independent watchdog agency; independent investigations of violence connected with the protest that caused 28 deaths and almost 1,000 injuries; and amendment of the Constitution to be more fair to all political parties.