via CAAI
Published: 17/01/2011
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has criticised the Thai Patriots Network’s move to petition His Majesty the King, accusing the government of mismanaging the border demarcation issue with Cambodia, saying it is inappropriate.
The network’s claim that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had conspired with Cambodia on the issue of border demarcation, leading to loss of national sovereignty, was totally unjust, Mr Suthep, who oversees national security, said on Monday.
The network, a splinter group of the yellow-shirt People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), has threatened to begin a campaign to gather signatures to petition the King against the government's alleged failure in its management of border issues with Cambodia, including the recent arrest of seven Thais.
The seven were arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Dec 29 during a visit to a disputed area near Nong Jan village in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district next to Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province.
The seven, including Veera Somkwamkid, a coordinator of the network, and Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth, have been charged with illegal entry and trespassing on a military area, which carry a maximum sentence of 8 months in jail.Mr Veera and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon, face additional charges of espionage.
Mr Suthep insisted no one in the government had been involved in the arrest of the seven Thais.
Asked about the blockage of Phitsanulok road in front of Government House by protesting members of the network, the deputy prime minister said Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Jakthip Chaijinda has been ordered to tell them to unblock the road and allow traffic through.
The road blockage has adversely the public and motorists.
He admitted the government has been under pressure over the past two years in office. It has tried its best to solve the problems. However, it could not pay heed to all demands by pressure groups, he said.
On the planned rally by the PAD on Jan 25, he said the government could not prevent any group from staging a rally. However, he believed the majority of Thais did not want to see unrest in the country.
Mr Chaiwat Sinsuwong, a core member of the network,said on Monday that his group would petition the King tomorrow.
He blasted Mr Suthep over his remark, saying the deputy minister had no right to make any remark deemed infringing upon the monarch’s authority.
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