Suranand needs to go: Democrat spokesman
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The opposition called yesterday for Suranand Vejjajiva, secretary-general to Premier Yingluck Shinawatra, to resign - if he fails to prove that he did not block a foreign news group from interviewing Opposition Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Democrat Party spokesperson Chavanond Intarakomalyasut questioned why Suranand had not come out to clarify the allegation, since interfering with the media is a big issue – and a violation of Article 46 of the Constitution.
The opposition was uneasy about working with Suranand, who intimidated the media. He called on Yingluck to consider taking action against Suranand, saying the PM always stresses the significance of rights and liberty in a democracy.
Earlier, Chavanond said he had evidence to prove the government – through Yingluck’s aide Suranand – had tried to stop USA Today from interviewing Abhisit.
He said the evidence came in the form of e-mails exchanged between the newspaper and Abhisit, which clearly showed that Suranand had stopped the interview from taking place. Chavanond said he would submit the evidence to the Office of the Ombudsman.
He said USA Today arranged an interview one month earlier and had scheduled it for 10am last Thursday (May 9). But it informed Abhisit an hour after that time that the paper wanted to urgently cancel the interview – because it had talked with Suranand, who opposed the interview. The paper said it would not receive support from the government if a reporter interviewed Abhisit.
Meanwhile, Chavanond also attacked Noppadon Pattama, a former legal adviser for Thaksin Shinawatra, for issuing a “false” claim to the foreign community, accusing the Abhisit government of being formed undemocratically.
Chavanond accused Noppadon of using his own imagination to make up stories about the Abhisit government. “If he speaks nonsense he will only be laughed at by foreign countries,’’ he said.
