The Democrat Party has refused to join the caretaker government's reform forum today, stressing the party is unwilling to be used as "a rubber stamp" for administration.
STICKING HIS NECK OUT: People’s Democratic Reform Committee secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban leans out from his seat as he listens to academics. They were presenting their views on a ‘people’s council’ and other ideas for national reform at Thammasat University yesterday.
Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has assigned caretaker PM's Office Minister Tongthong Chandransu to assemble the forum to find a way to resolve the conflict.
Members of the public and private sector as well as the Senate and two representatives from each political party will sit together to sound out solutions, Mr Tongthong said.
However, Ong-art Klampaiboon, a former Democrat Party list-MP, said yesterday the forum will not help achieve reforms.
The government previously began a reform council, but it failed to materialise, he said. The administration only wanted to buy time and was insincere about solving the problem, Mr Ong-art said, adding that it was uncertain as to whether the conclusion of the forum would really be implemented.
The Democrats did not want to serve as a rubber stamp to justify any government action, he said.
"The government is trying to build up its image of seeking reforms," Mr Ong-art said.
"The administration has failed to pay heed to the issue over the past two years, but it turns to talk about reforms now."
Former deputy police chief and member of the Police Commission Achirawit Suphanphesat has been assigned to attend the government's reform forum.
Pol Gen Achirawit will represent the Royal Thai Police in every forum, National police chief Adul Saengsingkaew said yesterday.
Pol Gen Adul said if he attended the forum himself, but failed to arrest participants who have outstanding arrest warrants, he would face a charge of negligence of duty under Section 157 of the Criminal Code.
He stressed police will prosecute the leaders of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) who have outstanding arrest warrants against them.
Pheu Thai deputy spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard said yesterday PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban confused himself and changed the group's stance on sending representatives.
Mr Suthep said a phu yai, or senior figure, told him not to send representatives to the forum.
The forum will take place at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.