UK envoy meets Thai PM

BANGKOK, November 29 (TNA) - British Ambassador to Thailand Mark Andrew Geoffrey Kent paid a courtesy call on Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Friday, during which he proposed that both the Thai government and protesters hold a dialogue to end the ongoing political strife in the country. Government Spokesman Teerat Ratanasevi quoted the British top envoy as saying that he disagrees with the protesters' seizure of government buildings, but he wants to see both sides hold talks instead. Teerat acknowledged the British ambassador also expressed his concerns that the Thai government’s new mega investment plans, worth 2.2 trillion baht, might be delayed. In response, the Thai prime minister told the British ambassador that state security forces will continue avoiding any confrontation with the protesters and her government adheres to universal practices and is willing to hold a dialogue to end the ongoing domestic political crux. Regarding her administration's new 2.2-trillion-baht infrastructure development projects, the Thai premier admitted that the new investment could be delayed pending a ruling by the Constitution Court on whether a draft bill allowing the government to borrow the fund to finance the mega-investment is against the Thai Charter, as earlier filed by the oppostion camp, although the draft bill has already been approved by the House of Representatives. (TNA)