AMID a string of demonstrations since the middle of last month Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said today (Aug 5) that he is arranging an arena for students to air their views and will find the time to personally go listen to them, INN News reported this afternoon.
Speaking after laying a wreath at HM King Rama 5’s monument to mark the 133rd anniversary of the founding of Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy the Premier said that smaller arenas too will be opened in the provinces for students there to speak up with this to be launched this month.
The National Economic and Social Development Council will organize the forums and work out how they are to proceed.
Gen. Prayut pointed out that the important issue right now is to move the country forward and handle the national economy which has been impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.
For this reason it is imperative to focus on the people who have been affected by this pandemic with other issues to be resolved according to the procedures.
Gen. Prayut added that he would find time to personally listen to the students but urged them to propose useful ideas while focusing on action beneficial to the people.
That the students want to talk about politics is already known and ways have to be found to continue discussion, he said, while also pointing out that today he is doing his best in the executive branch of the government with there being three branches in all, including the legislative and the judiciary, so he cannot overstep the boundary.
Regarding the students’ three proposals, that the government stop intimidating the people, amend the constitution and dissolve Parliament, Gen. Prayut said it has still to be seen whether Parliament could be dissolved also whether the Constitution should be amended before or after the dissolution.
Everything has to be handled according to the procedures with a commission having to propose changes to the government, the government considering the proposal and then tabling it to a joint House session but the details are not known yet, he added.
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Top: Prime Minister Prayut attending today’s ceremony at Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. Photo: INN News