Prayut orders close watch on protesters
PM calls them threat to 'complete democracy'
published : 26 Mar 2018 at 09:34
writer: Gregory Morrissey
ORIGINAL SOURCE/WRITER: Post Reporters
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered security forces to closely monitor political groups which are currently launching campaigns to unseat the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), according to a government spokesman.
Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd, speaking on Sunday, said he was quoting the response of Gen Prayut, who is head of the NCPO, to anti-military activists who have stated that they will stage a prolonged rally in May to oust the regime ahead of the fourth anniversary of the May 22, 2014 coup.
Their announcement was made after Saturday night's rally by two emerging political groups -- the Democracy Restoration Group (DRG) and Start Up People.
The DRG is led by Rangsiman Rome while Start Up People is headed by Sirawith Seritiwat. Both are politically active university students whose stance is anti-military. The two were among several political activists released on bail after leading rallies against the NCPO despite the ban on political gatherings of five people or more.
On Saturday, in a bid to challenge the NCPO, the protesters broke through security barriers and gathered in front of the Royal Thai Army headquarters on Ratchadamnoen Avenue to demand that the election be held this year.
Closely monitored by 600 police and security officers, around 400 activists had marched from Thammasat University's Tha Prachan campus to the army headquarters, calling on the army to stop supporting the regime.
Gen Prayut reportedly ordered security forces and ant-riot police to use "extreme caution" when dealing with these activists.
"The PM said that people are beginning to worry that those haunting old scenes [of political unrest] are recurring, so he is encouraging everyone to think twice about what they should and shouldn't do to keep the country moving forward. The government and the NCPO will try their very best not to allow the nation to slip back into the same vicious circle," Lt Gen Sansern said.
He added that the prime minister was aware that certain groups wished to stir up unrest and that their activities are expected to escalate.
"I believe most people now understand well that Thailand is heading towards an election as planned in the country's roadmap. The important mission of the NCPO, which stepped in to take on a caretaker role, is now to do its utmost to get the country back to being a 'complete democracy,'" Gen Prayut was quoted as saying. "So, if unrest continues to rage, is it likely an election can proceed smoothly?"
Maj Gen Piyaphong Klinphan, a spokesman for the NCPO, said security officials are gathering evidence and witness statements to take legal action, if necessary, against those who took part in the protests.
In response to the issues raised by the groups, Maj Gen Piyaphong insisted an election will "definitely" take place according to the roadmap, and rejected calls for the army to withdraw support for the NCPO saying the two are "inseparable."
On Sunday, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said that the NCPO should listen to the protesters and avoid excessive use of its controversial Section 44 powers.
Chawalit Wichayasuth, former deputy secretary-general of the Pheu Thai Party, shared Mr Abhisit's view, saying people are losing faith after seeing Gen Prayut intervene in so many areas, the latest being the removal of Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn.
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Vocabulary
- activist: someone who takes part in activities that are intended to achieve political or social change, especially someone who is a member of an organisation - นักกิจกรรม
- bail: money that is given to a court when someone is allowed to stay out of prison until their trial. If they do not return for the trial, the court keeps the money - เงินประกัน; การประกันตัว
- caretaker: in charge for a short time, until a new leader or government is chosen - รักษาการ
- demand: a very firm request for something - ข้อเรียกร้อง, การเรียกร้อง
- escalate: to become or make something greater, worse or more serious -
- excessive: much greater than is usual; too much of something - มากเกินปริมาณที่พอดี
- haunting: causing repeated suffering or anxiety - ทำให้กังวล
- intervene: to become involved in a situation in order to try to stop or change it - แทรกแซง
- monitor: to regularly check someone/something - จับตาดู เฝ้าระมัดระวัง
- oust: to force to leave a position of power - ขับออกจากอำนาจ
- prolonged: continuing for a long time - ยืดเวลาออกไป
- quote: to repeat the words that someone else has said or written - ยกคำพูดมา
- rally: a large public gathering of people to support someone or to protest against something - การชุมนุม
- recurring (adj): that happens again and again - เกิดขึ้นอีก,ปรากฎบ่อย ๆ
- regime: a government that controls a country, especially in a strict or unfair way - รัฐบาลที่ขึ้นมาปกครองโดยการยึดอำนาจ
- slip: to fall to a lower level; to become worse - ตกต่ำ,เสื่อม,เสื่อมโทรม
- stance (noun): the official position or opinion that a person or organization has on some issue -
- stir up: to make someone feel upset or angry - ก่อให้เกิดความขุ่นใจ
- unrest: angry or violent behaviour by people who are protesting or fighting against something - สถานการณ์ที่ไม่สงบ
- utmost: as much as possible: used for emphasizing a quality or feeling - สุดขีด, อย่างมาก
- vicious circle (noun): vicious cycle, a continuing unpleasant situation, created when one problem causes another problem which then makes the first problem worse - วงจรของปัญหา