Veera turns down talk show with PM

Veera

Meanwhile, the red shirts plan to start campaigning today for as many as a million signatures to seek a royal pardon for fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

"Never mind, the producers will have to invite other people even though I sincerely hoped for Veera's participation," Abhisit said.

He added that he was ready to answer any questions from Veera, who is seen as a staunch supporter of Thaksin and an ardent critic of the Democrat-led coalition.

However, Abhisit ruled out speculation that he might allow Thaksin to hold a phone-in chat with his supporters during the talk show.

"The programme format is not designed to allow a phone-in," he explained.

Pheu Thai Party MP Jatuporn Promphan said Veera, as well as the red shirts, deemed it inappropriate to share the limelight with Abhisit, who they say, lacks the legitimacy to govern.

Their goals are to push for House dissolution and to overthrow bureaucratic polity, Jatuporn said, adding that Veera would not have a face-off with Abhisit unless the latter agrees to abandon double standards with regard to the charter rewrite. He did not elaborate on the issue.

Jatuporn also said it would not seem right if Veera were to appear on television side by side with Abhisit, especially since the red shirts had launched a month-long campaign to pave the way for snap elections.

He also questioned the prime minister's sincerity for fostering reconciliation, because Abhisit's spokesman, MP Thepthai Senpong, has been very hostile toward the red shirts.

Earlier yesterday, PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey said Veera had been approached to appear on a talk show with Abhisit. The show, aired on Sundays, is designed to highlight the PM's weekly address in a talk-show format.

Veera, though a voluble critic of the Democrat-led coalition, began his political career as a Democrat.

Meanwhile, PM's deputy secretary-general Panitan Wattanayagorn said Veera should have accepted the invitation.

"His absence would only disappoint viewers, plus the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship and the red shirts would only lose their political edge. Abhisit has given Veera a chance to discuss several issues live on television. Veera would have had the opportunity to ask or say anything. Even though Abhisit and Veera have different opinions, they should discuss issues and find new solutions to conflicts in society," he said.

Abhisit would go if invited by Veera, Panitan said.

Similarly, People's Alliance for Democracy leader Sondhi Limthongkul also refused to participate in the show despite being invited by Abhisit.

Meanwhile, Thaksin's legal adviser Noppadon Pattama yesterday said it was improper to prevent ex-premier's supporters from expressing their sympathy. He was responding to criticism that a campaign seeking royal amnesty for Thaksin was inappropriate.

Jatuporn said yesterday that he and other red-shirt leaders would start collecting signatures, in a campaign that should be completed in a month.

The politician-cum-activist said that petitioning His Majesty had been a practice since the Sukhothai Era many centuries ago and he did not think the appeal would be deemed offensive.