Thai opposition refuses to end protests

Thai opposition party People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protestors will not negotiate with the government-run centre for maintaining peace and order but will go ahead with their shutdown campaign, protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said Monday.

Suthep was reacting to the centre's announcement that it wants to send a team of negotiators to talk to the protestors and ask them to return the occupied government offices.

The centre for maintaining peace and order said the team led by Adul Saengsingkaew, police chief, would be ready from Monday until Friday, warning that the PDRC must return the occupied offices or face legal action, the Bangkok Post reported.

Since November 2013, protestors have been taking to the streets and occupying government offices, calling for reforms before the elections scheduled for Feb 2. They also want Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down.

"Protestors at all PDRC rally sites will definitely not negotiate. Don't waste your time contacting us because we won't talk to you. We will continue to protest so that government officials no longer serve as a tool for the Thaksin regime to do harm to the country," Suthep said.

Suthep said that he believed the PDRC's rejection of talks would be used by the centre as an excuse to launch a crackdown at each of the protest sites.

Suthep meanwhile, called director of centre for maintaining peace and order, Chalerm Yubamrung and chief adviser Surapong Tovichakchaikul to abolish the centre, arguing that it has no legitimacy.

Suthep said the PDRC would give the centre until Tuesday, Jan 28, to shut down.

"We give the centre one day. If by tomorrow (Tuesday) centre is still located at the narcotics suppression bureau, we will move to surround the centre to prevent it from further intimidating the people," he said.

Earlier, Chalerm said teams of raiders will be dispatched to round up PDRC-led protestors laying siege to various government offices in 72 hours.

He said he would order the action using powers available under the emergency decree, but insisted the move would not equate to a crackdown on protestors as no weapons would be used.

A state of emergency was invoked by the government Jan 21 in Bangkok and some nearby areas for 60 days in order to control the ongoing protests.