BANGKOK, Dec 13: Thailand’s police chief today dismissed reports that he agreed to meet anti-Government protest leader Suthep Thaugsban, who is wanted by police on charges of sedition.
Pol Maj Gen Piya Uthayo, a spokesman for the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order, quoted police chief Pol Gen Adul Sangsingkaew as admitting that Suthep had called him, but he told the opposition leader that as a police officer his role was to enforce the law.
It would be up to the chiefs of the armed forces to decide, if they wanted to meet Suthep, the anti-Government leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee, Piya said.
The police chief had also appointed a team of investigators to probe who is behind a questionable video clip, deemed to violate the law covering lese majeste.
Suthep had claimed the leaders of army, navy, airforce and police agreed to meet him and other protesters on Saturday to hear their political plans.
Deputy Senate speaker Surachai Liangbunlertchai said the Senate was ready to work to bring the caretaker Government and the opposition to the negotiating table.
Ruling Pheu Thai party strategist Sompong Amornwiwat said the party was ready to meet Suthep any time to discuss what could be done to reform Thailand’s political system, before the February 2 general elections.
Sompong said a “people’s council” as demanded by Suthep cannot be enforced legally.
Thai opposition protesters yesterday cut power and water supplies to the Government headquarters and appealed to the powerful military to intervene to topple premier Yingluck Shinawatra amid a raging political crisis.
For the past two weeks, thousands of protesters have marched in Bangkok in a bid to replace Yingluck with an unelected “People’s Council”.
The protesters, led by Suthep, accuse Yingluck of acting as a proxy for her fugitive brother Thaksin, who was ousted from power in 2006. (AGENCIES)
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