Pro-democracy groups yesterday asked interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont to abolish certain announcements made by the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR) that they said were against the interim Constitution.

The CDR was replaced by the Council for National Security (CNS) when the interim charter took effect.

Weng Tojirakarn, chairman of the Confederation for Democracy, said many announcements contradicting the charter were still in effect, including one controlling media outlets that went against a principle citing freedom of speech.

A group of 30 Assembly of the Poor members said the charter contained no guarantee of basic rights for poor people, adding that martial law was a gross violation of the human rights of all Thai people.

They sent a letter making three requests: the end of martial law, an open meetings between the interim government and the group to discuss measures to fight poverty, and public participation in every step of the process to draft the next constitution.

The Network of Victims of Medical Malpractice later submitted a request to Surayud asking him to look into 300 cases of medical negligence and to deliver fairness to victims.

The group proposed Dr Pravet Wasi and Dr Wichai Chokewiwat as candidates for the public health ministerial post, saying they were known for their integrity, professional expertise and impartiality - vital in ensuring they would not automatically side with doctors subject to allegations.

Wilaiwan Saetia, president of the Thai Labour Solidarity Committee, and nine other people yesterday presented a five-point proposal aimed at improving welfare and benefits for labourers to the CNS at Army headquarters in Bangkok.

Meanwhile, a lawyer yesterday filed a libel suit against well-known political scientist Giles Ungphakorn accusing him of lese majeste.

Chaiyong Rattanawan said he had decided to take legal action against Giles because he believed the Chulalongkorn University lecturer had committed lese majeste in an interview published in a newspaper.

Giles said in the interview that the new prime minister was the military's premier who had not come to power through an election, so he was an illegal prime minister. He said the people wanted an elected premier.

Chaiyong said Giles' comments broke the law and created disharmony in the country.

The police have received the complaint and will investigate.

Giles said he believed the police would not prosecute him because if the case went to court it would have a damaging effect on the country's image.

He was confident he had not broken the law, saying he was exercising a basic democratic right.

"However, if the court takes the case and makes a ruling, that means we can't criticise the government anymore," he said.

Giles was among a group of students, lecturers and social activists who staged a protest against the coup in front of Siam Centre shopping plaza on September 22.

He said the coup had annihilated the rights and liberties of Thais.

Hassaya Chartmontri,

Sucheera Pinijparakarn

The Nation