NCPO tells Suthep to steer clear of politics
Suthep Thaugsuban, the former leader of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), will be banned from speaking to the press if he intends to discuss politics, said Chatchalerm Chalermsuk, the deputy secretary-general of the National Council for Pe
Suthep, who finished his stint in the monkshood Tuesday in Surat Thani, is planning to speak to the media about his future plans. The political veteran had for months led anti-government protests against the Yingluck government that led to a military coup in May last year.
Chatchalerm said he would send officials to monitor Suthep’s press conference. Suthep has not asked the NCPO for permission to hold a press conference so he is not allowed to speak about politics, he insisted.
Suthep would be held to the same standards as everyone else, even the red shirts, whose members were asked to refrain from staging political activities for the sake of national reconciliation, peace and order, he said.
Chatchalerm said the NCPO had clearly ordered that anyone wanting to hold any activities that may be deemed political must seek permission. The PDRC had not sought permission.
“If the group is not sure, it can submit details of the press conference. But if the group is confident the subject is not political in nature, there is no need to seek permission,’’ he said.
Col Winthai Suvari, the NCPO spokesman, said that he had learned from the press that Suthep planned to give a “constructive” press conference about the work of the Great Mass of People's Foundation for Thailand's Reforms and about future of the country. He said agency would have to wait its field officials to report what exactly the press conference is about.
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