The Centre for the Adminstrtation Peace and Order (CAPO) on Wednesday ordered state officials not to leave their offices and talk to rallying anti-government protesters calling on civil servants to join their campaign against the caretaker government.
The caretaker government has banned meetings like the one on Tuesday between protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, left, and Kittipong Kritayarak, permanent secretary for justice. (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)
The order was announced in a statement issued after a meeting of the CAPO on Wednesday. it reminded officials of the need to stay neutral in politics and to resist the pressure applied by the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) to defect to the anti-government camp.
The order followed a 30-minute talk on Tuesday between PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban and top ministry officials, led by Kittipong Kritayarak, permanent secretary for justice, at the Justice Ministry.
Mr Suthep and other key members of the PDRC were greeted by ministry officials and the two sides agreed there was a need for reform.
It was the warmest greeting yet by ministry officials since the PDRC began its "visits" to lure civil servants to support its campaign for reform on April 1, Civil Servants Day.
However, it drew a strong reaction from the CAPO and caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul on Wednesday.
The centre criticised Mr Kittipong, who also supervises the Department of Special Investigation, and said he should have alerted authorities so they could have captured the protest leaders as all were wanted on arrest warrants.
Mr Surapong, who is the CAPO's chief adviser, seemed angered by what happened at the ministry and warned officials they could be sternly disciplined and civil servants could face possible legal action if they left their desks to show support for the PDRC during office hours.
''No more using office hours to support Mr Suthep, because officials get paid by taxpayers,'' he said. ''I don't mind if they do it after work,'' he added.
The CAPO will call a meeting of all permanent secretaries on April 17 to underline need for discipline, the statement said, and stressed that all permanent secretaries were required to attend the meeting.
Mr Kittipong is a strong supporter for reform and has made clear his position in public, and again in the meeting with the PDRC on Tuesday.
The PDRC was also welcomed when it went to the Finance Ministry and the Bank of Thailand on Monday, when many officials came out to greet the group and some took pictures with Mr Suthep.
On Wednesday they visited the Defence Ministry to call on the military to lend support for their struggle for reform ahead of elections.