Publicity blitz aims to explain judicial moves in cases of airport seizure and Thaksin's Bt76-bn assets
The government will next week launch a publicity campaign aimed at dispelling lingering doubts about injustice and double standards regarding two high-profile cases against rival political camps, PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey said yesterday.
The publicity blitz is designed to explain the judicial proceedings related to the cases of the airport seizure involving the yellow shirts in 2008 and the Bt76-billion impounded assets of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
"The red shirts are trying to smear the judicial system and the government is obligated to explain the facts in order to counter any attempts to politicise the judiciary," Satit said.
As the red shirts tried to sway opinion, members of the public needed to access pertinent facts in order to form a judgement, he said.
The government's publicity campaign will take place from Monday to February 25. It is to be presented in various programming formats through print and broadcasting outlets.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he expected political moves to intensify ahead of the verdict by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders on the assets-seizure case against Thaksin.
He was referring to mounting pressure by Thaksin's red-shirt supporters against the authorities.
"I can't say if things will improve after the court verdict. But there certainly are attempts to step up the moves ahead of the reading of the verdict," Abhisit said yesterday. The prime minister insisted he had confidence in his security details and trust in Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of security affairs.
He was in effect dismissing media reports that he was unhappy with the security measures overseen by Suthep.
Abhisit also laughed when asked to confirm reports that his father, Dr Atthasit, had spent Bt300,000 a month hiring a special security team for the PM and his family after he was attacked by red-shirt protesters at the Interior Ministry in April last year.
"I am still puzzled how anyone could come up with this story. It is actually impossible, but you may need to ask |him [my father]," the prime minister |said.
As for his alleged dissatisfaction with Suthep's security measures, Abhisit said there was no distrust between them and he well understood there were limitations as Suthep had many responsibilities. "There are no reasons for distrust," he added.
