Chaturon in CNS sights
The Council for National Security (CNS) and the Thai Rak Thai Party have locked horns over the enforcement of the junta's ban on party-related activities.
With the CNS scheduled to debate today whether to penalise the party for violating the ban, Thai Rak Thai has argued that its acting leader Chaturon Chaisang has the right to meet constituents in an individual capacity. The contentious issue has been triggered by Chaturon's trip last week to meet constituents in the Northeast. He also plans to visit the North later this week.The junta issued two announcements - No 15 and 27 - prohibiting political parties from organising functions and gatherings, CNS spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewdamnoed said yesterday. "As I see it, Chaturon's trip to trumpet his party's accomplishments and future plans for administering the country is a clear violation of the ban," Sansern said. Chaturon acted in defiance of the CNS because he was trying to drum up support for populist policies, he said. In a rebuttal, party executive Pongpol Adireksarn said Chaturon was free to air his views and meet with his supporters. "Chaturon did everything in accordance with the 2006 Interim Constitution and I don't know how the ban should be interpreted, but his trip did not take place on the party's behalf," Pongpol said. He said the CNS should not try to fault his party. He also stated that politicians should be encouraged to meet with constituents in order to solicit opinions pertinent to the rewrite of the constitution.
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