BANGKOK, April 6 (UPI) -- The Democratic Party of Thailand has accused former leader Thaksin Shinawatra and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of having secret talks with rebel leaders.
Democrat Parliament member Songkhla Thaworn Senneam claimed Thaksin and Yingluck broke the government's policy of not negotiating with the insurgents by meeting with southern rebel leaders in February and March, the Bangkok Post reported Friday.
Thaworn alleged Thaksin had met 18 representatives of the southern rebels in a "neighboring country" on Feb. 22 and Yingluck talked with 15 insurgent leaders on March 17.
Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva backed Thaworn's allegation, saying any negotiations between the former premier, the prime minister and rebel groups could complicate efforts to end violence in southern Thailand.
Neither Thaksin nor Yingluck have responded to the allegations yet, however, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung strongly denied Thaksin and Yingluck had talked with rebel representatives and called the Democrats' accusations groundless.
