Foreign Correspondence

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Strikes fizzle

Forty-three state enterprise unions largely failed to deliver their nationwide strike
Wednesday - planned to show workers' support for the PAD protesters at Government House.

The strike promised to cut basic utilities such as electricity and water
to selected government targets and close down the port in Bangkok.

On Monday, representatives of some 43 state enterprises and 200,000 state employees
threatened a nationwide strike starting 9 am Wednesday to support members of the People's
Alliance for Democracy (PAD) who have occupied the seat of government since August
26 - forcing the prime minister to declare a state of emergency after violence early on Tuesday.

As of mid-day Wednesday there had been almost no worker action, although some state enterprises
such as the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand reported an unusually large number of absentees.

A Thai Airways International flight from Phitsanulok to Bangkok was cancelled by the captain
and crew Wednesday morning on the excuse that they weren't "feeling ready" to fly.

"The decision to strike is up to them," said Somsak Kosaisuk, a senior PAD
leader and the former labour union leader at the State Railways of Thailand (SRT).

Ironically, the SRT's labour union had partially closed down the national
rail network last Friday - but was back in operation Wednesday.

Despite the state enterprise labour unions' failure to pull off a nationwide strike, and the
imposition of emergency law, the PAD was not showing signs of vacating Government House.

PAD's Somsak said Wednesday that the movement still insisted that Thai
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej resign before they enter into negotiations.

Army Commander-in-Chief General Anupong Paojinda has been appointed to
head a committee to solve the standoff between the PAD and office-less government.

The general made clear at a press conference Tuesday that the military would not use violence
to expel the PAD from Government House, raising questions as to how he intends to solve the crisis.

2 separate bites from 8 comments ..

Everything the "PAD" has attempted to do this past week, just ended today with the unions backing out from the threats ...

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.. I thank the Army for being so wise and negotiating instead of beating and shooting!

This man has put my believe in Thailand and it's people back on track. And I guess a lot of farang think like me!

Negotiation is always the best way to get problems solved.

You want blood? Go and rent a DVD! ..........

http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=130336