Thai protester representatives to attend government reform forum

Three will represent Thailand's anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) to attend a government-held forum on Sunday, one of the three representatives Suriyasai Katasila said on Friday. The political reform forum, proposed by caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Friday, will invite about 100 representatives of the public and private sectors, permanent secretary for the Prime Minister's Office Tongthong Chantharangsu said. These representatives come from business organizations, ministries, media, political parties, the Senate, universities, the PDRC and also pro-government "Red Shirts," according to Tongthong, who has been assigned to organize the forum. The forum is expected to help Thailand find a way out of the current political deadlock before the New Year, ahead of the general election scheduled for Feb. 2, 2014, he said. The PDRC is also organizing a forum of its own on Saturday, according to its secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban. The PDRC insists that an agreement on how to reform the country be reached before the general election. Otherwise, the election has to be postponed, Suthep said on Friday. A number of PDRC core leaders including Suthep will meet with the top military brass on Saturday afternoon to explain their reform plans and seek support from the military leaders. Suthep on Wednesday sought meetings with senior military and police leaders. The request was turned down by national police chief Adul Saengsingkaew. At first, all commanders of the armed forces made the decision together not the meet the PDRC leaders, according to army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha. If 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, Prayuth said late Wednesday. But in a statement issued on Thursday night, the armed forces said the meeting could lead to an exchange of views, which would be followed by a peaceful solution.