PDRC Confers with Labour Unions, Retired Senior Civil Servants on “Final Battle”

BANGKOK, May 18 (TNA) – Anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) movement on Sunday discussed with representatives of state enterprise labour unions and retired senior civil servants measures to oust the caretaker government, aimed at ridding political crisis prevailing in Thailand. PDRC leaders, led by secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, held talks with representatives of the Federation of State Enterprise Relations in the morning on the movement’s “final battle” which starts May 19 until May 26. On Monday, the anti-government protesters will march to see caretaker ministers and demanded them to resign from their posts so that “ power could be returned to the people”. The protesters who are now besieging government offices will ask civil servants to disobey orders given by ministers whom they claimed have lacked legitimacy in governing the country. Mr. Suthep and PDRC core leaders will on Monday afternoon confer with retired senior officials and will ask them to join the protesters. Meanwhile, Mr. Jatuporn Prompan, chairman of the pro-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said that supporters of his movement who are now holding a rally on Aksa Road in Bangkok’s neighbouring province of Nakhon Pathom would escalate the rally and move from the current rally site if the situation deteriorated after Mr. Suthep had said that he would surrender himself and fight charges on May 27 if PDRC failed to oust the caretaker government. Dr. Weng Tochirakarn, a core leader of UDD, urged senators to resist PDRC demands. He also asked acting caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisarn to prepare a draft bill on fixing the date for holding the general election as soon as possible. UDD secretary-general Nattawut Saikuar asked the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) to request the Criminal Court to revoke bail given to PDRC leaders facing several charges, including insurrection. Mr. Nattawut said that chaos would occur if PDRC protesters go all out and demand current caretaker ministers leave their posts. (TNA)