A combined force of police, military personnel and local administration officials on Tuesday seized dozens of New Year’s calendars depicting former prime ministers Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra from a house in Warin Chamrap district of the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani.
The calendars carry a New Year’s message and mention about the upcoming election but police have yet to establish the source behind their distribution.
The calendars were found at a house belonging to Mrs Ratthavi Phuipom, a staunch supporter of the red-shirt movement Her son, Saravuth, told officials that his mother was on a business trip to Bangkok when the house was raided and he had no idea who delivered the calendars to the residence
Saravuth was later taken to a local police station for questioning but no charges were filed against him.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said that it was the responsibility of security officials and the Election Commission to look into the matter. He also asked the media not to blow the calendar issue out of proportion, saying that he didn’t want to talk about the issue.
Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul said police have yet to find out who was behind the distribution of the calendars which had also been found earlier at Thammasat University, Constitutional Court and some of the northeastern provinces. “Police and security officials are probing the matter,” he said.
Meanwhile, an apparently tampered picture showing the prime minister working in an office with a calendar depicting Thaksin and Yingluck hung on the wall was posted on the social media.
Deputy Prime Prawit Wongsuwan said he would have no objection to the calendars being distributed if they were for personal use but if it had hidden political agenda, then the Election Commission to see to it whether the distribution of the calendars is legal or not.
However, the deputy prime minister said the distributors of the calenders belong to those who oppose the government.
