Democrats Unconcerned About Challenge From Pheu Thai

Democrats Unconcerned about Challenge from Pheu Thai

The deputy prime minister in charge of national security is not concerned about competition from the Pheu Thai Party in the upcoming election and believes the prime minister's popularity will bring him back to power.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is also the Democrat secretary general, said he is still confident in the popularity of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat Party leader.

Suthep believes Abhisit can lead the Democrat Party to victory in the next election and return to the prime minister post again.

Suthep said the Pheu Thai Party must be trying to find someone suitable to compete with Abhisit and if it fails to do so, it will most likely just pick someone from the Shinawatra clan.

Suthep accused Pheu Thai of trying to spread rumors that the military is trying to influence the election and cheat on the results in case it loses in the election.

The deputy premier insisted the Democrat Party has never thought about bringing in the military to help cheat on the election results.

On the claim made by former secretary to the Constitution Court president, Pasit Sakdanarong, that an “invisible hand” helped the Democrat Party escape conviction in the dissolution cases, Suthep said such an accusation is normal for the Pheu Thai Party in its attempt to try to discredit the Democrats.

Pasit is believed to have shot and leaked the video clips which tried to show interference within the Constitution Court for a favorable ruling for the Democrat Party in its dissolution cases.

He turned himself in to police after fleeing arrest for several months and has been eleased on bail. He took the red-shirt stage to make this claim.

Suthep also commented on Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong's dissatisfaction with Thailand for allegedly not cooperating in welcoming Indonesian troops to observe the border conflict.

Suthep said Thailand does not oppose Indonesian troops observing the situation but the area where the representatives will be allowed must be clearly identified.

Furthermore, the representatives should be civilians rather than soldiers.

-- Tan Network 2011-04-11