Don't involve Prem: Chalit
A top junta member yesterday asked anti-coup groups that staged a protest against the junta and Surayud government on Sunday not to "disturb" Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda, as he was not involved in political affairs.
Air Chief Marshal Chalit Pukphasuk, deputy chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS ), said he was not concerned about the groups' move, but warned that they could abuse other people through public allegations. About 1,000 anti-coup protesters marched on Sunday from Sanam Luang to Pol Neung Intersection, close to Prem's residence in the Theves area, to denounce the man they believe was the mastermind behind the military takeover six months ago. The marchers, led by the September 19 Network against the Coup, called for an immediate return to democracy and a general election. Chalit said Prem had nothing to do with the coup and the CNS, as the junta calls itself. PM's secretary-general General Pongthep Tesprateep questioned whether the anti-coup groups were sincere about helping the nation, which desperately needed to regain stability. Pongthep, formerly a close aide of Prem, also called on the media to report ongoing political affairs "positively", which would benefit the whole country, instead of giving bad news that people heard regularly.
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