Thai junta gives green light to politicians to go abroad

BANGKOK, May 30 (TNA) - The army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) allows Thai politicians whom it earlier summonsed for attitude adjustment to travel abroad. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan told journalists of the decision on Monday, noting that the permission has been given without any condition. General Prawit said that Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha, who is also NCPO chief, wants the domestic situation to be relaxed and wants to demonstrate his trust to the persons. According to the deputy premier, NCPO will, however, continue to prohibit political parties from holding any meeting in the country. “I believe that all parties understand the NCPO work over the past two years. I am not worried if any politician makes movements in another country. However, NCPO has not yet permitted any political activity or any meeting of political parties in the country because the authority does not want confusion in the country. The domestic situation is good currently,” the deputy prime minister told reporters. Meanwhile, NCPO Spokesman Colonel Piyaphong Klinphan confirmed that politicians and persons earlier summonsed for attitude adjustment will be allowed to travel abroad as of June 1, 2016, but those who were prosecuted cannot do so. The spokesman explained that NCPO has agreed to relax restrictions at times to facilitate the upcoming public referendum on Thailand's new Constitution, set on August 7, 2016. In response to political parties’ calls for permission for their meetings, the spokesman stated that NCPO is monitoring the situation and will gradually relax control, acknowledging that it is not the right time for political parties to do activities, as intelligence have reported movements of political groups and official decisions are to be based on national security. The Election Commission of Thailand (EC) and the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) are, in the meantime, organizing sessions to let people express opinions on the new Constitution draft and encourage eligible voters to exercise their right on the Charter referendum date. (TNA)