The Ruam Palang Paendin protest group has vowed to hold another mass rally in the middle of August, in an attempt to force the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and the withdrawal of the coalition parties from the Pheu Thai-led government.
Paetongtarn was suspended from performing duties as prime minister by the Constitutional Court today, but she retains the prime ministerial post, pending a ruling from the court.
The group staged a peaceful mass rally at the Victory Monument on June 28..
One of the protest leaders, Jatuporn Prompan, reiterated that the Ruam Palang Paendin rejects a coup but, at the same time, rejects Paetongtarn’s premiership.
He accused the Pheu Thai party of being hypocritical for its anti-coup proclamation, while collaborating with the United Nation and Palang Pracharath parties, both founded by coup makers, in the formation of the government.
He also criticised the opposition People’s party for being a “half-hearted” opposition party, because it is failing to do its job in earnest, citing the cases of Khao Hai land encroachment and the Alpine golf course.
He noted that there is sufficient evidence to take these cases to the Constitutional Court, but the People’s party remains reluctant to do so, adding that the party has also declined to support the Bhumjaithai party’s move to seek a no-confidence debate against Paetongtarn.
Jatuporn said that, if the People’s party is reluctant to do its job properly, it is in no position to accuse the protest leaders of advocating for a coup to overthrow the government.
