Former aide says Prem not linked to Pitak Siam rally
A former aide to Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda yesterday dismissed fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra's suggestion that Prem was behind his participation in the anti-government protests.
Retired Admiral Phajun Tamprateep, former chief of the Privy Council president’s office, said he joined the Pitak Siam rally on October 28 on his own, due to concern for the country. But he did not know its leader retired General Boonlert Kaewprasit.
Phajun said he would again take part in Pitak Siam’s rally this Saturday at the Royal Plaza. “General Prem has nothing to do with my decision to join the protest. I no longer work for him. I went to the protest on my own, as someone who has concern for the country,” he said.
“I don’t know General Boonlert personally. But I joined the protest because I love my country. I am an old soldier but I still want to love the country and to protect the monarchy. I once vowed to preserve His Majesty the King’s legacies with my blood,” he said.
He rejected Thaksin’s claim that he had plotted the anti-government rally with Pitak Siam leaders.
“That’s not true. I didn’t join any meeting [of Pitak Siam leaders]. I just took part in the rally.”
In a phone-in to a red-shirt rally in Samut Prakan on Sunday night, Thaksin criticised Prem for “allowing” Phajun to join the anti-government rally. He questioned why Prem did not stop Phajun from attending.
Red-shirt leader Suporn Atthawong said yesterday that while Pitak Siam holds its rally on Saturday the red shirts would hold a parallel gathering in Bangkok’s suburban areas but they would not get close to the Royal Plaza protest.
However, he threatened to mobilise red shirts from around the country within 24 hours – as many as 200,000 from Bangkok within two hours – to “protect the democratically elected government”, if necessary.
Suporn, now a deputy secretary-general to the prime minister, said Thaksin told the red shirts to be ready for possible unrest due to the Pitak Siam rally.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who is in charge of the police, met yesterday with police chiefs and representatives from security agencies to discuss preparations for the anti-government rally.
RELATED