Thai Rak Thai Party caretaker leader Chaturon Chaisang yesterday defied a junta ban on political meetings and vowed to continue doing so.

He is the first politician to openly challenge the Council for National Security (CNS) order.

The former deputy prime minister said the CNS did not scare him.

He visited residents of Na Khoo in Kalasin with Thai Rak Thai executive member Adisorn Piengket and former members of Parliament before moving on to Khao Wong, where 300 people turned out to hear him speak.

He plans to visit Khon Kaen today.

He addressed his audience using a loudspeaker. It was his first public activity since assuming the caretaker leader's role following the September coup.

The CNS banned political meetings and activities following the takeover. Many have demanded the bar be lifted well ahead of the coming general election.

The Election Commission is scheduled to make a recommendation to the CNS soon.

Chaturon said politicians must serve the people because the military-backed rulers had no time to listen to grassroots problems.

He added the CNS had no right to prohibit such visits. Politicians seeking election need to know what worries voters, he said.

Chaturon said the CNS had nothing to fear from his trips.

He learned voters still supported Thai Rak Thai policies, although this government had changed their names.

The party will not instigate insurrection because the "people cannot fight tanks and guns" but can do battle at the ballot box.

Samatcha Hoonsara

The Nation