Former ASEAN chief urges Thai junta to make decisions quickly

BANGKOK, August 9 (TNA) - Former secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Surin Pitsuwan has urged the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to make decisions on issues, especially those related to law, quickly and prudently which would not affect growth in the regional grouping. Speaking during a seminar celebrating the 47th anniversary of ASEAN founding on Friday at the Foreign Affairs Ministry headquarters, Surin said that although Thailand would still not have an elected government at the implementation of ASEAN Community (AC), due to be launched end of 2015, there was still no problem. However, Thai authorities must prove to the international community that they could “run the country under the present circumstances” and if their works are seen as not good enough, there could be pressure from foreign countries, said Surin. “While the NCPO is ruling the country now, it should speed up solving problems including human trafficking, migration, narcotics and transnational crimes,” said Surin. Thailand is now ranked number two in trade among ASEAN members and problems could widen if these problems are left unsolved,” he added. He said Thailand’s fellow members in ASEAN wanted to see smooth management in the kingdom before the implementation of the AC and they are offering moral support so that the situation in this country could return to normal soon. (TNA)