Mr. Sek Wannamethee, Director-General
of the Department of Information and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, on 28 November 2013 gave a briefing to the foreign media on the
current political situation in Thailand.
The Spokesperson summarized the main
points of the Prime Minister’s statement on 28 November 2013 at 14:00 hr as
follows:
- While the Government has dealt with
the protests with utmost restraint to avoid casualties, it has also been able
to ensure continuity in the administration of the state and law enforcement.
- Although the provision of public
services by some agencies has been affected, the Government has contingency
plans to ensure that there is sufficient and comprehensive provision of public
services.
- The Government does not wish to play
political games as it believes that would set the country back economically,
socially and in terms of foreign confidence.
- The Government is prepared to listen
to proposals from all protest groups. However, the protesters’ demand for the
establishment of a “People’s Assembly” cannot be implemented under the
provisions of the present Constitution.
- The Prime Minister has asked that the
protesters end their rallies and give back the few remaining government offices
they are occupying so as to allow the functioning of government to continue.
- The Government is ready to organize
an open dialogue forum because it does not want confrontation, and would
cooperate with all stakeholders in seeking a peaceful solution acceptable to
all sides.
As a side note, the Spokesperson added
that contrary to rumors, the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs was fully functioning and providing the public with all consular
services, such as the issuance of passports.
The Spokesperson recapped the Prime
Minister’s statement of 25 November 2013, and summarized the meeting between
the Prime Minister and the heads of government agencies at Parliament Building
on 27 November 2013 as follows:
- The Prime Minister reiterated that
all government officials shall use maximum restraint and handle the situation
in a peaceful manner while dealing with the protesters.
- The Prime Minister urged all
government officials to continue their duties as usual. The Government is ready
and prepared to support the operation of government agencies by all means.
- All government officials shall also
be responsible for protecting government property and buildings. In case of
emergency, all government agencies shall have an alternative office to ensure
that their services are not disrupted.
The Spokesperson also summed up the key
points of the Statement of Center for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO)
delivered on 28 November 2013 as follows:
- The Royal Thai Police will continue
to take various actions necessary to preserve peace and order, but the use of
force will be avoided. The protesters are allowed to exercise their fundament
rights guaranteed by the Thai Constitution as long as these are exercised in a
peaceful manner.
- All individuals who forcibly entered
and occupied government buildings will be held accountable under the law. For
the government buildings that remain occupied, CAPO will send a representative
to negotiate with the protesters to leave the premises at the earliest
opportunity.
- Traffic police will help facilitate
motorists and commuters in the affected areas.
Regarding the current status of the
protests, the Spokesperson said that the main venues of the protests are the
Democracy Monument in the Ratchadamnoen area, the Government Complex on Chaeng
Watthana Road, the Ministry of Finance, and Nang Loeng intersection.
According to the latest report from the
Ministry of Interior regarding the situation outside Bangkok (as of 27 November
2013 at 24:00 hr), most of the protesters who surrounded the City Halls of
several provinces had already returned home. Only a small number of protesters
remain at the City Halls of Songkhla, Satun, Chumphon and Kanchanaburi
provinces.
The Spokesperson said that, to date,
five countries – Australia, Canada, China, the United Kingdom, and the United
States of America as well as two international organizations – the European
Union and the United Nations – have issued statements regarding the political
situation in Thailand. All expressed their support for democracy, urged all
sides to exercise restraint and hoped to see the situation resolved by peaceful
means.
The Spokesperson also noted that there
are 30 countries and 2 economies that have issue travel advisories in relation
to the situation in Thailand. They advised their travelers to exercise caution
and avoid areas affected by the protests. These travel advisories are based on
fact and no country has prohibited its citizens from travelling to Thailand.
In response to questions from the
media, the Spokesperson affirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was
functioning normally and at full capacity. The Ministry of Finance was also
functioning as their officials could work remotely and many of its departments
were scattered around different locations in Bangkok.
To a query about security measures for
important public venues such as airports, the Spokesperson said that all
airports were unaffected by the protests and fully operational, but security
measures have been stepped up as precaution.
(thailand.prd.go.th)