BANGKOK, March 14 — Anti-government protesters of the Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand (NSPRT) sealed off the Office of the Council of State to bar officials from working to serve the caretaker government.
Using a loudspeaker truck, NSPRT spokesman Amorn Amornratananonton announced that the visitation to the Office of the Council of State, the government’s legal arm on Phra Athit Road, was its third and last visit.
“There will be no negotiation and we will seal off the office to stop officials from working to serve the caretaker government until the ‘People’s Council’ is set up. The council is expected to take shape soon.
Civil servants gradually left the premises and NSPRT volunteer guards chained the front gate and blocked the entrance with barriers.
The NSPRT, an allied group of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), earlier moved from its protest site at Chamai Maruchet Bridge near Government House to the naval headquarters in Arun Amarin subdistrict to petition navy chief Adm Narong Pipathanasai asking him to review the planned transfer of Rear Adm Winai Klom-in, commander of the Naval Special Warfare Command, commonly known as the SEALs.
Adm Winai earlier commented on the political situation in a way that obviously had a negative impact on the caretaker government. He was reported to be moved to another position in the annual minor reshuffle in April.
Nitithorn Lamlua, NSPTR advisor, urged Adm Narong to review the transfer of Real Adm Winai. He also called on the navy chief to not bend to political pressure and not to let politics to intervene in the reshuffle list.
Rear Adm Kan Dee-ubol, the navy secretary, represented the navy chief in receiving the NSPRT letter. (MCOT online news)
