NCPO downplays threats of anti-coup movements overseas

BANGKOK, June 12 (TNA) - Thailand's army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) shrugs off overseas anti-coup movements and a rumored exile administrative organization. NCPO Deputy Spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree expressed the stance on Thursday, as some persons who stay overseas and defy the NCPO's orders to surrender reportedly plan to form an exile Thai administrative organization against the coup council, including Jakrapob Penkair, former minister attached to the prime minister's office minister under the previous Thaksin Shinawatra government. Colonel Winthai said that the NCPO, through the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has continued asking other countries not to support such inciting movements. However, the NCPO considers such movements will not have any significant impact and should be aimed only at seeking foreign allies; so, the NCPO would like to focus on the domestic situation. The deputy spokesman also insisted that the NCPO has exercised the martial law properly and mainly against those who violate security and computer laws. The deputy spokesman denied a rumor that the NCPO was hunting for those who insulted the royal institution, acknowledging that the NCPO focused on convincing them to cooperate. Foreign Ministry Spokesamn Sek Wannamethee, who is also the ministry's Director General of Department of Information, stated, in the meantime, that staffs of Thai embassies overseas are checking whereabouts of those reportedly forming anti-NCPO movements overseas. Meanwhile, the Thai Martial Court approved a 12-day extended detention of a leading anti-coup activisit, Sombat Boon-ngamanong, at Bangkok Remand Prison, from June 12-23, after he was arrested in seaside Chon Buri Province in the Thai East on June 5 and was detained at a military custody for seven days. Sombat was charged with instigating unrest, breaching the computer law and violating the NCPO's order to report himself to the coup council. The Martial Court is, however, considering the leading red-clad activist's request for his temporary release on bail. (TNA)