Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva urged the National Council for Peace and Order to lift the ban on political activities, noting that the junta needs not to be worried that national security may be compromised because of the lifting of the ban as it has all the powers to deal effectively with any parties whose activities are deemed a security threat.
He pointed out that the main problem confronted by existing parties is that they could not hold any meetings or undertake any political activities while new parties which are yet to be established cannot set up branch offices. He also warned that the problem would worsen the longer the ban is not lifted.
Pointing out at the junta’s concern with security problem if the ban on political activities is lifted, the former prime minister said that party meetings or the fact that party executives going out to meet their members should not be a problem for the junta as it has at its disposal all the security-related laws to deal with activities it deems to be a security threat.
If the NCPO really wants political reform to be realized, Abhisit said that the junta should allow political parties to be able to recruit as many members as they can so they can participate in the selection of party candidates, in the drafting of party policies and in other matters of importance.
Asked to comment about the reported attempts to “suck” former MPs into parties which support General Prayut Chan-o-cha as the next prime minister, the Democrat party leader said that this was not unusual as new parties would try to win the elections.
He said his only concern about this “sucking” phenomenon is that Thai politics would return to “gutter” politics with vested interests either in the form of money of political positions being offered to lure former MPs into their fold.
Asked about the meeting this week between the NCPO and political parties at the Army Club, Abhisit said he would not attend because he would have an appointment with the Supreme Patriarch, but he had assigned three representatives namely deputy leader Jurin Laksanavisit, Sutham Rahong and Thawil Praisont to attend on the party’s behalf.
