Thailand’s Ruling Party to Discuss Plans to Counter No-confidence Debate

BANGKOK, November 17 (TNA) - Members of Thailand’s ruling Pheu Thai Party will meet this Tuesday to discuss plans to counter a no-confidence debate lodged by the major opposition Democrat Party, said the party spokesman Prompong Nopparit. The Democrat Party last week submitted the petition to House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont requesting the House to hold the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, her deputy Plodprasop Suraswadi and Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan. Mr. Somsak has said he would hold a meeting of legal advisers on Monday to check the validity of the motion. Touching on the ongoing anti-government demonstration at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument organised by the Democrat Party, Mr. Prompong said protesters have tried to intimidate and hurt policemen guarding the rally. He also said the opposition party has hired hooligans from two southern provinces and paid 500 baht to each of them to come to Bangkok to stage violence. Meanwhile, police have set up more checkpoints around Bangkok’s three districts in which the Internal Security Act are imposed to prevent untoward incidents on Loy Krathong festival which falls on Sunday. Police are concerned that third hand party might try to harm the protesters, aimed at instigating unrest. Democrat MP Ong-art Klampaibul, meanwhile, told a press conference that the prime minister should ask ‘Red Shirt’ people to stop pressuring the Constitution Court judges who will this Wednesday consider whether the latest amendment of the charter is legal. Mr. Ong-art also asked the prime minister to order police not to use violence against the demonstrators.