Protest leaders-backed permanent secretaries to face harsh disciplinary actions

BANGKOK, April 9 (TNA) - Thailand's Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul has warned permanent secretaries of ministries not to support anti-government protest leaders during office hours, or they will face harsh disciplinary actions. Surapong made the warning on Wednesday, after Permanent Secretary for Justice Kittipong Kittayarak opened the Ministry of Justice to welcome Suthep Thaugsuban, secretary-general of the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), on Tuesday. Surapong stressed that government officials and permanent secretaries of ministries must not welcome Suthep and associates because they are alleged rebels and those who support them will face serious disciplinary actions. According to the caretaker deputy prime minister, he will discuss the matter at the next meeting of the caretaker government-run Center for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) and he will also convene permanent secretaries of all ministries to acknowledge the instruction. The caretaker deputy prime minister noted, however, that the government officials and permanent secretaries have their right to express support out of office hours, but during office hours, they should not do that. The caretaker deputy prime minister assured that the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will prosecute the PDRC leader and his associates for treason because they recently announced to seek sovereign status. Meanwhile, Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha insisted that the Thai military does not support wrongdoers. In response to the PDRC leader's recent announcement to seek sovereign status, the army commander-in-chief indicated that authorities will take legal actions if the PDRC leader's move is illegal, and that the DSI is handling the case. Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, in the meantime, vowed that his party does not support any unconstitutional change, urging the caretaker government to protect independent organizations from any threat and to negotiate with the PDRC leader to prevent any, possible, renewed violence. (TNA)