Thai Spring slammed for using Parliament as venue for press conference
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The Thai Spring group was slammed Friday for having the nerve to hold a press conference at Parliament and will be banned from using this venue in the future.
The group’s leader Kaewsan Athibodhi had invoked his rights as a former senator to call the press conference in the Parliament compound. Also present were other key leaders, namely Pol General Vasit Dejkunchorn and Kwansruang Atibodhi.
However, Watana Senpairoh, spokesman for the House Speaker, said he and other parliamentary officials had been reprimanded for letting this happen, adding that it was wrong to use a government building to announce policies that cause rifts in society.
Pheu Thai spokesman Promphong Nopparit joined Watana in attacking the group’s leaders, saying using the venue was inappropriate as it was the working place of parliamentarians and not a venue to discuss issues that will only cause conflicts.
When asked why red-shirt leaders could hold media events at Parliament, Watana said they were allowed because Pheu Thai MPs accompanied them. He added that Thai Spring could use the venue again if MPs or senators supported them.
Meanwhile, the three leaders announced to the press that they will be launching online rallies via the Facebook page Thai Spring Forum to step up pressure on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, whom they denounced as the “nation’s betrayer”.
