PM: Yingluck is not being forced out of the country

BANGKOK, February 28 (TNA) - Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has said that an attempt by the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s (NACC) to file a damage suit against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra for losses caused by the controversial rice pledging scheme does not intend to force her to flee the country. The anti-graft panel on Tuesday submitted a letter asking the Finance Ministry to sue the former premier for 600 billion baht damages caused by the rice scheme. General Prayut said he has assigned Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam to consider legal aspects relating to the request for his government to sue Yingluck. He said he does not think the issue should prompt Yingluck to flee the country. The prime minister also declined that his government intends to add more pressure to Yingluck. He said the NACC had planned to sue the former premier even before his government came into power. Meanwhile, the attorney general is set to arraign Yingluck on the rice scheme with the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on Thursday (Feb 19). SAir Force chief Air Chief Marshall Tritos Sonjaeng said he does not believe that any group would stage a rally tomorrow. “There should not be any problem as all parties should understand that the country needs peace and order to progress,” he said. (TNA)