BANGKOK, June 3 – Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said today he has no problem with the reinstatement of Thawil Pliensri to head the National Security Council (NSC) as ruled by the Administrative Court.
“Mr Thawil will simply sign documents if he becomes NSC secretary general. I have never trusted intelligence of the Special Branch Bureau and the NSC anyway,” he said.
He said two high-ranking NSC officials, Surapol Puenaiyaka and Paradorn Patanatabut, had never petitioned when they were transferred to inactive posts by former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
“They never put pressure on Mr Abhisit. It is not right for Mr Thawil to pressure the government. He should wait for the Prime Minister’s Office resolution whether it would appeal the Administrative Court’s ruling,” Mr Chalerm said.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has assigned the PM’s Office to thoroughly study the court’s verdict to decide if the government would appeal in Mr Thawil’s case.
Mr Chalerm said Lt Gen Paradorn, current NSC secretary general, remains authorised to hold peace talks with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) militant movement in Kuala Lumpur on June 13.
“The Thai delegation has prepared a five-point proposal for the talks. If there is neither progress nor conclusion, we will have to review the dialogue procedure,” the deputy prime minister said.
Former premier Abhisit called on Ms Yingluck to reinstate Mr Thawil to head the NSC as ruled by the Administrative Court instead of prolonging the case until Mr Thawil’s retirement. (MCOT online news)
