PM to hold urgent meeting to tackle SRT problems

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday he would hold an urgent meeting to address the internal problems plaguing the State Railway of Thailand.

"The talks will focus on three main issues - justice demanded by railway workers, restructuring of the SRT and the safety and standards of train services," he said.

However, all pertinent issues, including the appeals of workers against their firing for grounding trains, would be discussed at the negotiating table with SRT union workers and management, he said.

Of utmost importance is how to ensure quality train services continue uninterrupted pending an agreement on restructuring the SRT, he said.

"Without question train services need to be overhauled," he said.

A fair solution would be found to improve train services without prejudicing workers or management, he said.

New Politics Party spokesman Samran Rodphet denied his party was behind striking workers as alleged by certain Democrat MPs.

Some, including Akom Engchuan and Pramual Aimpia, had tried to smear his party for political gain, he said.

Even though railway union leader Sawit Kaewwan is a core leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, which is affiliated with the party, |he made a personal decision to |freeze train services without any connection to the PAD or the party, he said.

The party has come out to back the railway union because it wants to see corruption rooted out in the SRT and this should not be construed as condoning the work stoppage, he said.

The government should quickly mediate the conflict between the union and management, he added.

New Politics secretary-general Suriyasai Katasila said the crux of the problem was corruption.

The party opposed any reform plan designed to carve up the SRT for investors, he said.

Both the Democrat Party and the Bhum Jai Thai Party, which oversees train transport, might be pushing their own plans for the SRT revamp, he added.