Junta:Roadmap will benefit Thailand's democratic development

BANGKOK, August 15 (TNA) - The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has affirmed that its roadmap will benefit Thailand's democracic development and national reform in various areas. NCPO Spokeswoman Colonel Sirichan Nga-thong told journalists on Friday that the NCPO has proceeded with its roadmap, a progress of which is seen by the establishment of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) recently. The NCPO spokeswoman said the junta has assigned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continually brief Thailand's updated situation to the international community. In response to a proposal recently raised by Acting Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, who is also Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, that the junta form a special panel to explain the updated domestic situation to the international community, the NCPO spokesperson insisted that existing mechanisms have worked well, namely the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Commerce, local security agencies, diplomats and other relevant public and private agencies. According to the NCPO spokesperson, several countries have shown their understanding about the Thai junta's three-step roadmap, while the existing mechanisms will continue explaining it to some countries which may not fully understand it. Earlier, US Secretary of State John Kerry made his second call for the Thai junta to revoke its restrictions on political activities and speech and quickly restore democracy in the country through a new free and fair general election. Meanwhile, Thai Army and NCPO Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha told the public during his weekly address on Friday night that he had welcomed several leading figures of allied nations over the past week, including Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People's Army or LPA Major General Suvon Luongbunmi (สุวอน เลืองบุนมี ), Timor-Leste Prime Minister and Defence Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, Bhutan Prime Minister Shering Tobge and Vanuatu Foreign Minister Sato Kilman Livtuvanu, all of whom expressed their understanding and admiration for the NCPO's performance and insisted on their countries' continual cooperation with Thailand. (TNA)