The red shirts of the Senate accept mediation when their protest is deflated.
Miguel F. Rovira Bangkok, May 18 .- The head of the Red Shirts, whose protest is deflated, I accept the mediation of the Senate today in negotiations with the Thai government to end the violence that has killed at least 37 people and almost 270 wounded.
The military siege at red bastion located within the commercial heart of Bangkok, the differences that hold the, tera gold, front antigovernment leaders and pressure from the opposition making Puea Thai Party (from Thais) funding it, are stifling the protest " red shirts. "
The southern end of the fort is deserted and silence is so great that it is the first time in many decades you hear the birds chirping at the junction of Silom Road and Avenue Rama IV, who, sto credits, under normal circumstances is one of the most congested in this metropolis of nearly 2 million people.
The stillness is interrupted only occasionally by the explosion of some firecracker thrown into the street by a kid who then runs away for fear of the reaction of the soldiers posted outside the stockade.
The tents set up to house the "red shirts" in the area who allegedly involved are empty of people but not of flies that hover between the abundance of trash and cardboard boxes with donated food days ago, people protesting the field.
The victuals are rotting on the side of their helmets and sticks to the, Cheap Gaia Gold, congregation used to protect a load of security forces.
"They have gone home," says Vinai, a man of 74 years from the nearby slum of Klong Tei, which selects among the rubbish that can be useful.
Near the stage erected in the downtown area of about three square kilometers occupied for five weeks, the picture does not resemble that of a few days ago, when inside the camp had about 10,000 demonstrators.
A few dozen supporters of the front sitting or lying on mats listening to the speech of the "red shirt" on duty, and in the next tent, the men slept while the women prepared the menu of the day: rice and chicken curry.
The disagreements have emerged among the 24 leaders of the United Front for Democracy and against the dictatorship, following the different strategies that both dnders to get the dissolution of the legislature, also have eroded the protest.
Veera Musikapong's resignation to continue as one of leaders of anti-government front was loyal enough to collect their belongings and left for their respective provinces, transport provided by the authorities.
"Here those with weight are the provincial leaders of the red shirts, it is they who follow the people," says Walaiporn, a woman of 51 years in the province of Si Sa Ket, who like her husband idolizes former deposed leader Thaksin Shinawatra, guide and main benefactor of the "red shirts."
With the protest in recession, the "red shirts" accepted the mediation of the Senate today in negotiations with the Government to find an exit from the political crisis that has unleashed a wave of violence that has killed at least 37 people in five days .
"We have agreed to hold a new round of talks proposalsby the Senate because if we let things go as they are, do not know how many lives will be lost, "said Natawut Saiku, one of the leaders, at a press conference.
Saiku said "not be right to put conditions on the Senate."
The negotiations involved a group of 64 senators of 150 who make up the upper house, and of which 74 are selected by a committee and the rest elected by a vote in the provinces of Thailand.
Before, the front asked UN mediation.
The proposed front leaders on Sunday to resume talks in exchange for the IDF to withdraw the troops, whose presence on the streets unleashed the worst wave of violence experienced in the country since the killing of demonstrators perpetrated by soldiers in 1992 Following the protests to demand the return of democracy.
The Thai Government withdraw its proposal last week to hold elections in November, when negotiations with the "shirts" red stalled and its leaders backed off their initial commitment to abandon the protest.
The clashes between demonstrators and soldiers have also caused 266 casualties, including in total approximately 1,650 recorded since the middle of the protests began last March.
Since then, at least 66 people have been killed by gunfire or explosions of grenades and other devices. mfr / msr