BANGKOK, Dec 4 – Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan today flatly rejected a proposed ‘people’s council’ and called on the opposition to abide by majority rule in Parliament.
Strongly responding to protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, he said the government and the ruling Pheu Thai Party saw no means to follow the proposal to implement Section 7 of the Constitution to set up a people’s council.
“The prime minister remains in power and she has done nothing wrong. The only political resolution is a House dissolution and re-election, which can be done by the government,” said the Pheu Thai leader.
He said it is unacceptable to irrationally create political unrest now that the no-confidence debate has ended, calling on protesters to abide by the rule of law.
“Society will survive peacefully under the rule of law. The government holds on to the majority rule. Not everybody thinks the same but we have to live under the system of majority rule. A decision must be respected and followed,” said Mr Charupong.
The interior minister said protesters should not be stubborn and turn to Parliament as a forum for debate.
“We can vote if our opinions are different. The minority should not claim the right for attention and do whatever it wants without respecting the right of the majority,” he said.
He proposed a process of dialogue with Mr Suthep and the opposition and called on them to abide by the majority instead of squabbling.
“The world will laugh at us. Elected representatives with differing opinions should be listened to. Different opinions end with voting and the minority must accept and respect the results,” he said.
