Thai military leaders to consider meeting protest leaders

Thailand's top military brass will discuss on Thursday whether to meet with anti-government protest leaders, a meeting they earlier dismissed as dangerous, a military spokesman said. The supreme commander is expected to discuss the matter with each of the armed forces commanders, said deputy army spokesman Winthai Suwari, quoted by the Bangkok Post. Former deputy prime minister and protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban on Wednesday announced he is seeking a meeting with senior military and police leaders to be held before 8 p.m. Thursday. According to Suthep, self-appointed secretary-general of the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), such a meeting would be necessary for the military and police leaders to understand the PDRC-proposed reform plans. Late Wednesday, army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said all commanders of the armed forces made the decision together not the meet protest leaders. It could be highly dangerous for the country if the military were believed to have taken the side of protesters should such a meeting take place, he added.