Thai PM charges Thaksin for misinformation

BANGKOK, May 23 (TNA) - Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha has charged fugitive, ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of giving inaccurate information to the public, stressing that he made the decision alone in staging the May 22 bloodless coup one-year ago. General Prayut, who was army chief when he staged the coup toppling the caretaker government of Yingluck Shinawatra, a younger sister of Thaksin, told reporters on Friday that comments made by Thaksin that the Privy Council was behind the military takeover in the kingdom was untrue. Friday marked the first anniversary of the coup. General Prayut, also chief of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), said he decided to launch the coup on that day because the “country and people were in grave danger” and the country could collapse if the situation prolonged because the government at that time did not have full authority while government expenditure could not be disbursed. Also, there were violent clashes while people felt insecure, he said. That was why he decided to risk himself and declared the martial law in order to control the situation. Thaksin, now living in self-imposed exile in oversea, told Choson Media in Seoul on Wednesday that the Privy Council was behind the military takeover which had toppled his sister government in 2014. Thaksin, himself, was also toppled by the Thai military in 2006. If possible, Thaksin should return to Thailand and stand trial, General Prayut said, adding that he would not intervene in the judicial process. Meanwhile, the prime minister said he was satisfied what he had done for the country over the year but certain issues were still left unaccomplished. One of them was laying foundation for the country, he said admitting that he was worried how next government would administer the country in future. (TNA)