Regime puts bold face on wave of anger

Regime puts bold face on wave of anger

Movement likely to fizzle out, it predicts

Col Piyapong Klinpan, long-time spokesman of the National Council for Peace and Order, predicted anti-regime protesters will lose all credibility and their campaigns will soon fizzle out. (Video grab via Thai PBS)
Col Piyapong Klinpan, long-time spokesman of the National Council for Peace and Order, predicted anti-regime protesters will lose all credibility and their campaigns will soon fizzle out. (Video grab via Thai PBS)

The regime is downplaying efforts by "anti-government elements" to undermine its position, predicting the movements are likely to fizzle out.

National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) spokesman Piyapong Klinpan said on Sunday that those who had attempted to incite public discontent against the government will lose all credibility.

He made the remark as the government comes under renewed pressure over several controversial issues, including the 90-day extension of enforcement of the organic bill on the election of MPs, the luxury watch scandal involving Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, and the government's handling of protesters.

Police brought criminal charges against 39 activists who led or joined a gathering of about 100 people at Bangkok's Pathumwan intersection on Jan 27 for violating the NCPO's ban on political gatherings of five or more people.

The group was demonstrating its opposition to the election delay likely to result from the delay in the organic bill start date.

Then, on Wednesday, authorities charged eight civil rights activists of the People Go Network for violating the political gathering ban, following the launch of their cross-country march campaign on Jan 20.

The We Walk march aims to demonstrate public dissatisfaction with the government's attempts to deal with a variety of social issues.

Also Sunday, Suriyasai Katasila, deputy dean of Rangsit University's Social Innovation College and former coordinator for the People's Alliance for Democracy, said the government's popularity is perceived to be in decline.

If the government fails to arrest the decline, this will adversely affect moves to set up a military-backed political party to support an outsider prime minister, Mr Suriyasai said.

The government must restore public confidence quickly if it wants to head off that threat, though this will not be easy as the people have now given the military government nearly four years to run the country, Mr Suriyasai said.

While the government has recently rolled out various measures to improve the economy, they have been overshadowed by the watch scandal involving Gen Prawit, Mr Suriyasai said.

Defence Ministry spokesman Khongcheep Tantravanich denied a report the ministry had instructed several military units to vote in favour of Gen Prawit on online polls to support him to continue to stay on in office.

Lt Gen Khongcheep referred to the CSI LA Facebook page, which published pictures of 25 luxury watches worn by Gen Prawit and is among those which have launched online polls.

Gen Prawit has come under renewed pressure over his luxury watch collection as petitions and online polls have been launched asking people if they think he should resign. This follows his comment on Wednesday when he said: "If the people don't want me, I'll leave."

Lt Gen Khongcheep said the ministry had no such policy and did not give any orders relating to the matter.

"If such an order had been issued, the number of votes in favour would have been much higher because there are more than 300,000 soldiers nationwide,'' the Defence Ministry spokesman said.

Adul Khieuboribun, chairman of the 1992 May Heroes Relatives Committee, and the relatives called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to announce precisely for the last time when the election will be held.

The committee also urged Gen Prawit to resign over the watch scandal to set a moral precedent and help prevent any confrontation.

It said the NCPO has governed the country for more than three years, which is more than enough.

Meanwhile, the possible postponement of the general election heads the list of political concerns for the general public, according to the result of an opinion survey, Suan Dusit Poll, conducted by Suan Dusit Rajabaht University.

The poll was carried out Jan 30-Feb 3 on 1,217 people throughout the country. The respondents were asked to name five current political issues of interest.

The highest number of respondents, 84.6%, said they are interested in reports on the postponement of the general election.

A smaller number, 66.7%, mentioned political arguments between the government on one side and politicians and activist groups on the other.

The third political issue, cited by 54% of the respondents, is the passing of organic laws affecting the election, political parties and politicians.

They said these laws are difficult to understand and should be more clearly explained.

The fourth issue, mentioned by 53.4% of the respondents, is anti-government activities by democracy groups.

They want to know whether the activities will escalate, and how the government will handle the situation.

The fifth issue, cited by 49.7% of the respondents, is that of unresolved cases against politicians. They want justice to be ensured for all sides.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (14)