Junta: Interim Charter balances power

BANGKOK, July 26 (TNA) - In an effort to calm worries among the public, Thai Army and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha says that the royally approved provisional Constitution will balance powers of the junta and an interim government to be formed soon. Speaking during his weekly address on Friday (Jul 25) night, General Prayuth told the public that the interim Charter, which has been promulgated after it was approved by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej earlier this week, will also pave the way for the NCPO to proceed to the second phase of its roadmap. General Prayuth urged the public to trust the NCPO and to be relieved, insisting that the junta is empowered in the interim Charter to maintain peace and to screen transparency of every sector. Admitting that there are still people opposing the NCPO in and outside the country, General Prayuth called for those people to stop attacking the junta, as both the judicial system and independent organisations are still performing and wrongdoers are to be punished. Meanwhile, Acting Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Puangketkeow, who is also Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, stated that, in principle, all countries have their own measures to handle the situation, considered affecting public safety and national security, calling for understanding from Human Rights Watch (HRW) that Thailand is in a transitional period which needs special measures to sustain national peace and order and stability. Sihasak's remarks were in response to HRW comments earlier that the junta's high power, authorised by Thailand's interim Charter, was feared to be non-accountability. Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organisation that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. (TNA)