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Action would Be Taken
against Anti-gov't Movements: Thai FM
Thailand's Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said
Saturday the government would take drastic action against movements by
activist groups because their actions would tarnish the country's image
in the eyes of the international community.
Noppadon was quoted by the state-run Thai News Agency as saying that he
was concerned about the government's attempts to improve the country's
image after the activist group, the People's Alliance for Democracy
(PAD), had renewed its activities during the past two weeks.
The PAD's movements could send wrong signals to foreign countries that
Thailand's political stability was still not secure, and this could
deter foreigners from investing in the country, he said.
"The government won't allow these bullying people to stay above the
law and it also won't allow anyone from slowing down the democratic
system from making headway," Noppadon said, noting that some
leading members of the PAD were also members of the House of
Representatives attached to a major political party.
He urged the unnamed party to disclose its political stance.
Noppadon said the activists could still hold rally, which is allowed by
the constitution, but they cannot threaten or use force against the
government or otherwise violate the law.
The government will not allow this to happen, he warned.
During the past days, especially after the return of ousted Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Feb. 28, the PAD, a civil anti-Thaksin
group which launched dozens of demonstrations against Thaksin before the
military coup in 2006, had threatened several times that the anti-Thaksin
group would launched mass protests against the government led by Prime
Minister Samak Sundaravej since "it is purging senior government
officials and interfering in judicial procedure."
2008-03-17 |
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