Red shirts' role to defend the govt, says jatuporn

Jatuporn, also a red-shirt leader, claimed a plot to topple Yingluck Shinawatra's government was rumoured to be implemented in December. Therefore, it was important to retain a red-shirt presence.

Although red leaders have taken political positions, the red shirt movement must remain as injustice is still being seen, Jatuporn said.

He said that while cases against red leaders were proceeding, investigation into the 91 deaths during the political turmoil last year was very slow.

Jatuporn, who greeted Aree Krainara, former head of the red-shirt guards, and Yoswarit Chooklom (Jeng dokjik) who have started working at the Interior Ministry, said he had told the red shirts appointed to political positions that the most important mission is to make the country "democratic".

"Serving in political positions, no matter if they are a minister's adviser or secretary, they [the red shirts] can be a key mechanism to help deal with injustice [of the kind] the red shirts had faced. Their positions have limited time, so they must put it to the best use. I told them that although they hold the positions, they must manage their time to meet people. Unless the red shirts are strong, the government cannot be strong," Jatuporn said.