Int'l envoys to be briefed on Thailand's political updates

BANGKOK, February 6 ( TNA) - Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul says he will, next week, invite international envoys for a briefing on Thailand’s updated political situation, particularly on certain movements planned to topple the democratically-elected government. Surapong told journalists on Thursday that some of the movements want the Thai military to stage a coup, noting that he will also inform the foreign envoys the truth about the current rallies organised by the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) with their eventual plan to topple the incumbent elected-administration. Surapong revealed that the international envoys will also be briefed on the need by Thailand's caretaker government to set up the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO), which will stay until the completion of the general election. On a suggestion by a former deputy prime minister and ex-finance minister M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula that a neutral person who is respected and recognised by the society be appointed as a new Thai prime minister in order to end the ongoing domestic political turmoil, Caretaker Science and Technology Minister Peerapan Palusuk insisted, meanwhile, that the idea is “impossible to implement because a prime minister has to be a House of Representatives member”. According to the caretaker minister, the 2007 Constitution needs to be either abolished or a military coup takes place if a neutral person is to be appointed a prime minister. The caretaker minister suggested that the Election Commission of Thailand (EC) fix a new date for the general election in 28 constituencies in the South blocked by protesters, stating that it is unnecessary to issue a fresh Royal Decree on organising the general election in the 28 constituencies and the EC can just issue its regulation. Caretaker Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt told reporters that Caretaker Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra called for an urgent meeting of senior officials of the Transport and Finance Ministries, as well as the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) and the Office of the Council of State to discuss government works, especially on how to offer services to the people without any interruption by ongoing anti-government rallies.(TNA)