Critics of red shirts targeting Pheu Thai : Thida
Those criticising the elected red-shirt leaders and insisting that they are not supposed to hold Cabinet seats are actually out to subvert the Pheu Thai Party, Thida Tavornset Tojirakarn, acting chairwoman of the red-shirt Demcratic Alliance Against Dictatorship, said yesterday.
However, that comment was her personal view and not made in her capacity as chairwoman of the movement, which takes no position on the matter and would allow Pheu Thai to decide the issue, she told The Nation
Thida, whose husband Weng is a Pheu Thai party-list MP-elect, warned that those doubting the suitability of elected red-shirt leaders harboured ill intentions towards the ruling Pheu Thai Party, as the red-shirt movement is one of the two "legs" of the party.
"I must say that [those critics] are very afraid of the red shirts and have concluded that Pheu Thai won due to red-shirt support. So they want to destroy Pheu Thai by undermining the red shirts. Some [red shirts] have already been jailed without evidence. If the Pheu Thai Party people listen [to such criticism], then it's up to their intelligence. The way to undermine Pheu Thai is to undermine the reds," she said on the phone.
Thida also warned that if none of the red-shirt leaders is awarded a Cabinet post, it might sow discontent among the red shirts and their rural leaders.
Such anti-red views look like those of the Democrat Party's acting secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban and reflect unwillingness of these people to accept defeat at the polls, she said.
"They find words to accuse us, like saying we want to change the [political] system."
Incoming MP Snoh Thienthong opposed a move to award the red-shirt leaders with Cabinet seats.
"I have talked to senior figures in the red-shirt movement and they agree not push for ministerial appointments," he said.
Thida's formal announcement as head of the movement was cryptic and could be construed as a warning to the politicians inside Pheu Thai who are jockeying for positions.
However, Thida said the movement "does not support any particular political party" and would scrutinise the next government.
The DAAD also urged Pheu Thai to quickly form the new government and urgently address the needs and plight of the people. The movement also wants to see the junta-sponsored Constitution amended. They called for proper healing and support of all victims of the political violence and military crackdown on red-shirt protesters.
Thida said the red-shirt movement has matured and that led to many extra people exercising their voting right in the July 3 election.
The movement wanted laws to be applied equally on all people charged, whether red shirts, yellow shirts or those in the government camp, regarding last year's protest which turned deadly, as well as other conflicts.
It will also push for the removal of Tharit Pengdit as director-general of the Department of Special Investigation for his alleged bias in his work.
The red-shirt movement will stage a "Concert for Democracy" on July 17 at Lumpini Park and vows to further advance democracy in Thailand. This will be followed by more such concerts throughout the country.
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