Suthep ‘not aligned with govt’

Suthep ‘not aligned with govt’

Foundation launch not political, govt says

Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda insisted on Friday the new foundation led by former protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban was not aligned with the government.

Gen Anupong was speaking at a meeting of Interior Ministry officials and provincial governors on Friday, a day after the launch of the Muan Maha Prachachon for Reforms Foundation, which represents members of the defunct anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).

Mr Suthep, now head of the foundation, on Thursday insisted national reforms must take place before elections.

However, he promised his group would not stage street demonstrations that could lead to fresh political conflicts and unrest.

The government and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) are following the road map of rebuilding the country's foundations and returning the country to democracy, Gen Anupong said.

In response to concerns that the foundation might stir up new conflicts, Gen Anupong said he believed most Thais share the sentiment that they do not want any more social unrest.

He gave his assurance that everything, including the reforms, are now progressing according to the direction set by the interim constitution.

The minister also insisted the government provides every group equal rights to carry out its activities, but said they must not provoke unrest in society.

Mr Suthep's announcement was not a form of political gathering prohibited by the NCPO and several NCPO officials were sent to the event to monitor it.

Other groups wanting to hold similar activities are required to submit their plans to the NCPO as well, Gen Anupong said.

Meanwhile, Akanat Promphan, secretary-general of the foundation, rejected claims by the Pheu Thai Party and the red-shirted United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) that the NCPO was unfair to allow the foundation to hold its press conference on Thursday.

The red shirts felt the conference was an open expression of political opinions which is one of the conditions prohibited by the NCPO.

Mr Akanat said he was puzzled by some statements by the UDD.

He said on the one hand, they were calling for freedom to express political views but on the other were demanding bans on gatherings out of fear they might set the stage for political opinions to be aired.

"Our foundation aims to protect the public interest but some groups only care about their own interest and popularity with voters," Mr Akanat said.

Rak Thailand Party leader Chuvit Kamolvisit said Mr Suthep does not deserve public trust as he clearly has an agenda to interfere with politics.

"Actually, Mr Suthep has signalled it's time the junta returned him the favour," Mr Chuvit said.

"It is thanks to the PDRC which created the chance for it to take power."

The PDRC denied its protests provided an excuse for the May 22 coup. Its critics, however, say the movement caused the NCPO to stage the coup.

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