4 ex-politicians face attitude adjustment

Those summoned are ex-education minister Chaturon Chaisang, red-shirt leaders Jatuporn Promphan and Nuttawut Saikuar, plus Pichai Naripthapan, a member of Pheu Thai’s economic team, and former Democrat MP Thaworn Senneam.

The session will be held at 11am tomorrow at the Royal Thai Army Club.

A source from the NCPO said the goal was not to adjust the attitude of those politicians. They were just invited to offer their comments about national reforms, he added.

Pichai responded to the summons by saying he had given opinions with honest intent with economic information based on state agencies’ data, without distortion. He said his aim was to warn the public to brace for uncertainty. He said he was summoned for “adjustment” sessions every time he publicly presents his views. Military officials had come to his home last Friday, but they did not stop him from expressing his opinions. 

Separately, former People’s Alliance for Democracy member Panthep Puapongpan spent an hour talking to a military official after submitting a letter to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, in which he voiced disapproval of the petroleum bill.

He later told the press that the talk was amicable with no intimidation or official summons from the NCPO. He said he was asked three questions: what his views were about the government, what he thought of the charter and what he could propose to the administration. 

Panthep said he advised the government to uphold public interest on energy issues, noting that if it was able to reform the energy sector, it would win people’s support. 

He said his group staged a campaign not to oust the government but to ensure that public interest was protected. “If any government, regardless of whether it is elected or not, puts the interest of energy capitalists before public interest, it can be ousted,’’ he said.