SPEAKING after the Criminal Court temporarily released student activist Mr. Parit Chivarak, or Penguin, on bail under the guarantee of a Thammasat University lecturer, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha confirmed he had not ordered the arrest of students or political activists, Sanook.com reported.
Deputy government spokesperson Ms. Trisulee Trisaranakul said Gen. Prayut pointed out that he did not have the authority to intervene in police work and everything was proceeding at their discretion.
The Prime Minister also called on the House of Representatives to use existing mechanisms to solve various problems that have arisen according to the democratic process.
He also confirmed that the government is preparing to propose a draft amendment to the Constitution and is not indifferent to the demands of various segments.
He urged the House to work hard at finding a way out of the current situation because political problems should be debated and resolved within the House as they were the representatives of the people.
Meanwhile the Criminal Court accepted the guarantee of Asst. Prof. Dr. Adisorn Chantarasuk, assistant to the president for Thammasat University’s student affairs, that Parit, who was arrested on eight counts yesterday, would not flee.
As a condition of his temporary release Parit is forbidden from undertaking any action similar to what is alleged in the case. Doing so would be considered a breach of bail condition and a fine of 100,000 baht would be levied.
After his temporary release Parit walked out of the court to speak to his supporters who were waiting outside the court gate which was guarded by a team of policemen.
He told them that he would be joining the gathering at the Democracy Monument tomorrow. Regarding the police searching his home, he said he was certain there was nothing illegal there.
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Top: Prime Minister Prayut. Thai headline says, “did not order the arrest of students.” Photo: Sanook.com
