Reporter ejected from House
A wire-service reporter was ejected from the House meeting chaired by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday after presenting the premier with a controversial question criticising the state of affairs in the country.
Padung Limcharoen, an aide of the prime minister, switched off the microphone and ordered security guards to escort AP reporter Suthin Wannaborworn from the room immediately after he posed the question: "The country is in crisis. Is this meeting real or just a joke?'' When Suthin tried to re-enter the room, guards blocked his way. Thaksin and Thai Rak Thai Party leaders appeared to be stunned by the incident but made no comment. Earlier in the meeting, Thaksin made a last-ditch attempt at persuading the opposition not to boycott the general election. He said he did not mind drafting a new pact, which he said he would sign along with the three opposition parties. He said that if the opposition wanted a pact instead of a social contract, his party would draft one which was acceptably concise. He added that he had rejected the pacts presented by the Democrats and the Mahachon Party because they were too detailed. Thaksin made the plea to the three major opposition parties after meeting with 20 small parties, 16 of which signed the pact previously drafted by the Thai Rak Thai Party. Thaksin also said he would go ahead with the general election as planned. - The Nation
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