BANGKOK, Dec 25 – Thailand’s anti-government movement, the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), today rejected the proposal of caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for a reform assembly, saying it does not respond to the people’s demand.
PDRC spokesman Akenat Prompan announced the group’s stance following Ms Yingluck’s televised address this morning on the formation of a reform assembly to work in parallel with the February 2 general election.
Ms Yingluck earlier announced that the reform assembly would not be a government forum but will be set up at the order of the prime minister and the Prime Minister’s Office. Two thousand persons from different professions will be recruited and shortlisted to 499 representatives.
Mr Akenat said the PDRC disagreed with the formation of a reform assembly, as it has no legal authority and still depends on politicians.
The spokesman said the people want a reform assembly which can punish corrupt politicians and stay above politics.
The reform assembly proposed by the caretaker premier simply does not respond to the demands of the people, said Mr Akenat, adding that the five-point proposal might have political implications as possible charter amendments are also included in the proposal.
“The move may reflect an attempt to whitewash for a certain group of people, as some members of the Shinawatra family are on the party-list candidacy registration,” said the PDRC spokesman.
Mr Akenat urged Ms Yingluck to resign from the caretaker post to open way for the country’s reform.
