NCPO chief says overseas have better understanding about Thai situation

BANGKOK, June 14 (TNA) - Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha has said a number of foreign countries have started to understand Thailand better, about three weeks after the military seized power in the country. Speaking during his televised address late Friday, General Prayuth, leader of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) which took over the country in the May 22 bloodless coup, said the attitude of friendly countries has gradually improved and they are understanding Thailand better. This was thanked to an official visit to China by the permanent secretary of Defence and a visit to Australia by Justice Ministry officials, he said, adding that NCPO is also preparing to invite U.S. and Japanese officials for talks soon. General Prayuth said he has recently ordered 23 Thai envoys to inform others countries the NCPO’s reasons to take over the country. Urging the Thais to extend their morale to NCPO, General Prayuth reiterated that he expected an interim prime minister would be appointed this September in order to drive the country forward while the cabinet could be set up in October. The NCPO chief also said he has been informed by the National Economic and Social Development Board that Thailand’s consumer confidence index has started improving. Meanwhile, the NCPO announced in statement televised on national TVs Friday night the lifting of the curfew across the country with immediate effect. The statement said curfew lifting was to ally the impact on people's daily life and tourism after there was no signs of violence in areas where the curfew from midnight to 4am was been imposed. (TNA)