NCPO brushes off Yingluck criticism

NCPO brushes off Yingluck criticism

PM 'always ready to heed public opinions'

NCPO spokesman Col Winthai Suvaree has told ex-premier Yingluck Shinawatra the regime heard her call for an end to arrests of people expressing their opinion, and assured her nothing will change. (Photos by Reuters, FB/Y.Shinawatra)
NCPO spokesman Col Winthai Suvaree has told ex-premier Yingluck Shinawatra the regime heard her call for an end to arrests of people expressing their opinion, and assured her nothing will change. (Photos by Reuters, FB/Y.Shinawatra)

The regime has hit back at former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra who called on premier Prayut Chan-o-cha to be "open-minded about criticism".

The government said some groups crossed the line in expressing their views and had hidden agendas. This comes amid criticism about curbs on free speech in the lead-up to the charter referendum.

National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) spokesman Winthai Suwaree was speaking after Ms Yingluck made the call in a Facebook post over the weekend.

The former premier said Gen Prayut is a public figure who has to be open-minded about both positive and negative opinions.

Her comments came after eight people were arrested in connection with online criticism of the military regime and Gen Prayut last week.

Col Winthai said his superior is always ready to heed opinions. Several formal channels for hearings have been set out nationwide so the government could gauge people's opinions in a systematic manner, he said.

Most of the information obtained through these channels is rational and can be adopted for development, the spokesman said.

This is different from some groups or individuals who are trying to express their views outside the designated channels with various issues involving hidden agendas, he said.

Responding to Ms Yingluck's comments that her administration was unable to invoke laws in the same way Gen Prayut has done, Col Winthai said the public understands the differences between her administration and this government, particularly the limited time frame for work.

During a normal period, governments without special legal powers can still work to tackle the country's problems. It depends on their determination and efforts to let the public know what they are doing, Col Winthai said.

Responding to the former premier's concerns about the dismissal of officials who fail to comply with policies to force someone to work for the administration, Col Winthai said past transfers of officers raised public doubts as they were seen to be politically motivated.

He said he is confident the current transfers are appropriate to the circumstances, are in line with demand for staff, and come with no political agenda.

Responding to Ms Yingluck's comment that political divisions do not stem from people who have different opinions, the spokesman said society includes people who are voicing different opinions both within and outside the "proper lines".

In the past, divisiveness resulted in loss of lives and property, which cannot be accepted in any society, he said.

"The handling of the political differences is delicate and requires caution," he said.

Col Winthai insisted members of the public can still express their opinions but in appropriate channels without the use of violence. But any concerns or doubts raised by anyone must be tangible, he said.

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