Dissent in provinces? Prove it, TRT declares
The Thai Rak Thai Party deputy spokesman yesterday called on the Council for National Security (CNS) and the government to prove there is dissent fomenting in the provinces and to let Thaksin Shinawatra return to the country.
Meanwhile, the party's legal expert Wichit Plangsrisakul, called for the lifting of the CNS announcement that prohibits political parties from holding activities so that it could help people affected by the floods. On Sunday, Thai Rak Thai member Noppadol Pattama had denied the party was involved in a groundswell of dissent, although Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas yesterday said the government was not convinced of this. "He [Noppadol] might be wanting to show his sincerity. According to our intelligence there is such a movement. They are limited in number but we need to know whether they will be violent, and that will affect the use of martial law. As long as the situation is not stable, we can't lift martial law. We have to help the country; people who want peace must not cause trouble for the government," he said. Thai Rak Thai deputy spokesman Jatuporn Promphan, said the party wanted the CNS and the government to reveal who had organised the dissenters as without proof it could damage the party's reputation. "The CNS seized power claiming it had the support of over 80 per cent of the people. Now it has military forces in all the agencies. Moreover, the Thai Rak Thai Party has insisted it is following what the CNS says, especially about not having any political movement and sticking to the reconciliation principle. Therefore, the CNS and the government have to produce evidence about who the underground groups are," Jatuporn said. Moreover, news reports of people lobbying for the post of National Legislative Assembly (NLA) speaker showed that even people selected by the military had a desire for power, he said. Jatuporn insisted Thaksin should have the right to clear himself. "The return of Thaksin should benefit the country because the CNS and the government have to accept there are people who agree and disagree with what the CNS has done - and many people still want an explanation on the allegations against Thaksin. If they don't want chaos or undercurrents, they have to be open to Thaksin's return," Jatuporn said. Thaksin's return would not cause any turmoil to the country as Thai Rak Thai members would use their influence to quell any dissent, he said. Wichit was worried that the amnesty for anti-Thaksin protesters could unfairly benefit some people.
Kesinee Jaikawang, Panya Thiewsangwan The Nation
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