Thai PM rejects protesters' demand for relinquishing power

BANGKOK, December 2 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has rejected a demand of the largest anti-government group, called itself the People’s Democratic Reform Committee, for her to return administrative power to people, saying that there is no law to support the action. The prime minister told a press conference on Monday afternoon that she does not see any possibility under the Thai Constitution for her to relinquish power and let people administer the nation, as demanded by Suthep Thaugsuban, now secretary-general of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee, who is a former MP and a former deputy prime minister under Thailand's main opposition Democrat Party. The prime minister insisted that she will neither create a condition nor pose a problem to the public and she is, instead, ready to do what will result in peace, but the demand for her to return power has no legal support under the Constitution. The prime minister echoed she would like to communicate with all groups that she would not mind resigning or dissolving the Parliament if either of them was to result in the restoration of national peace. The prime minister indicated the Royal Thai Armed Forces remain neutral and want to see peace, while her government is ready to listen to all proposals because it wants to see a way out, stressing that she is willing to do what will meet the need of the majority of people and create peace. The prime minister, again, asked demonstrators not to seize government offices, affirming that government officials do not take sides, but performing their duties to serve the public. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Police General Pracha Promnog told a press conference that the prime minister has assigned Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul to now supervise the Center for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) to facilitate the dissemination of information to the international community for the sake of national image. According to the deputy prime minister, the Government House has continued functioning, so has the Thai Cabinet.(TNA)