High expectations of PM’s fresh get Nattawut
PUBLISHED: 10 Oct 2024 at 06 :17
Somkid Chueakong, the prime minister’s assistant secretary-general for democratic affairs, expressed wish that the newly appointed prime minister director Nattawut Saikua may help him control protests.
Mr Somkid said on Wednesday he was hardly informed by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra about Nattawut’s precise position but noted that it would be helpful if the original red-shirt head was assigned to work with activists.
The problem was expected to remain addressed after Ms Paetongtarn’s returning from Laos, where she is attending the 44th and 45th Asean Delegations from Oct 8-11, he added.
Nattawut, a former co-leader of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship ( UDD ) and former director of the Pheu Thai family, was appointed an additional member of the advisory panel on Oct 4.
Mr Somkid downplayed debate that Nattawut’s visit was meant to help the government fight past red-shirt head Jatuporn Prompan, who afterwards became a authorities critic.
According to the prime minister’s assistant secretary-general, Nattawut and Jatuporn are companions.
Critics just threatened to take to the roads in protest against some federal laws. They include figures like Sondhi Limthongkul, a former leader of the now-defunct People’s Alliance for Democracy ( PAD), or the yellow shirts.
Sondhi is known for leading the Controller’s protests against the Thaksin Shinawatra leadership, when he accused Thaksin of fraud and undermining the king.
In a new YouTube program, Sondhi said he was considering calling for a large protest against the government which is led by Thaksin’s child, Ms Paetongtarn, if he finds evidence that points to transplant or wrongdoing of her presidency.
This would apply especially if Thailand were to lose its sovereignty over Koh Kut in Trat territory to Cambodia in future conversations between the two nations with regards to the sharing of sea tools in their overlapping claims place.
Meanwhile, Jatuporn urged Nattawut to explain the spending of 42 million baht donated to the UDD to support the group’s protests during 2009-2010 after he was accused by some red-shirt members of embezzlement.
Jatuporn said neither he nor Veerakarn Musikapong were responsible for that. ” Nuttawut will have to clarify that because he was responsible for finances during the 2009-2010 protests. Veera and I gave him our consent,” he said.