Thai PM, CAPO assess updated situation

BANGKOK, December 16 (TNA) - Caretaker Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra met members of the Center for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) at the Royal Thai Police Office in Bangkok on Monday morning, one day after the government-sponsored political forum was organized in the capital. The meeting is expected to assess the updated domestic political situation following Sunday's Thailand Reform Forum, in which many concerned parties participated, including the military and the private sector. The meeting is also likely to discuss updates related to the anti-government protest, led by the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), as it has announced to prolong its demonstrations. Present at the meeting include Caretaker Deputy Prime minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Caretaker Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Varathep Rattanakorn, Caretaker Education Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng National Police Chief Police General Adul Saengsingkaew, National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Lieutenant General Paradorn Patanatabutr, the Bureau of the Budget chief and members of the Council of State. Meanwhile, government officials could return to their offices in the compound of Bangkok's Government House, as the protesting Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand had moved out to join the PDRC protesters at the Democracy Monument on Rajadamnoen Avenue, after rallying in front of the Government House for a week. Security authorities are, however, guarding the government seat strictly, but only a handful of caretaker Cabinet members and officials have returned to the Government House, as they have worked at temporary offices elsewhere. PDRC spokesman Akanat Promphan insisted that his group does not reject the new general election but an early polling is believed to create problems, and that his group would campaign for national reform before the new general election. According to the spokesman, his group will organize its national reform forums at Chulalongkorn University on December 17, at Ramkhamhaeng University on Dec 18 and at the National Institute of Development Administration on December 19.(TNA)