The Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (Capo) has warned permanent secretaries and civil servants that they could face severe disciplinary actions if they spend their office time welcoming anti-government protesters.
Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, in his capacity as the Capo chief adviser, brought up the issue after the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban made a series of visits to ministries over the past week.
The PDRC said the visits raised the civil servants’ awareness about the need for national reform before elections and it claimed that the response of the permanent secretary for justice, Kittipong Kritayarak, who gave a warm welcome to Mr Suthep during a visit to the Justice Ministry on Tuesday showed the civil servants’ strong support for the PDRC.
Mr Surapong said yesterday he wanted to warn permanent secretaries and state officials in every ministry that they must continue working if they are visited by the PDRC protesters.
They do not need to greet Mr Suthep and his allies because they are regarded as rebels, the caretaker foreign minister said.
If they use their office time to show support towards the group, they will be subject to severe disciplinary punishment and held accountable for law violation, he said.
Mr Suthep’s announcement about seizing sovereign power does not comply with the democratic system, and civil servants must make a careful judgement on the matter, Mr Surapong said.
“I will bring this issue to the Capo meeting and call a meeting with all permanent secretaries at the Capo to let them acknowledge the order and prohibition over the matter,” Mr Surapong said.
Capo worker Sirima Sunawin told a press conference yesterday that the justice ministry officials who greeted Mr Suthep on Tuesday must take the blame.
She was referring to Mr Kittipong and other ministerial officials who held a meeting to welcome Mr Suthep at the ministry during the PDRC’s visit.
Ms Sirima said Mr Kittipong should be taken to task for acting inappropriately because the permanent secretary for justice is the supervisor of the Department of Special Investigation, which has laid treason charges against Mr Suthep and other PDRC co-leaders.
The Capo will call a meeting with all permanent secretaries on April 17 to warn them about the matter, and all secretaries must attend, she said. Capo chief Chalerm Yubamrung did not work at the agency yesterday because he was on an overseas trip, which was reported to be a meeting with Thaksin Shinawatra in Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, caretaker Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri stopped short of
taking disciplinary action against Mr Kittipong.
“I may not lay a disciplinary action against him because Mr Kittipong has only a few months before completing his six-year term as the permanent secretary, which forces him to discontinue the post,” the minister said.
Mr Suthep yesterday led the PDRC protesters to the Defence Ministry. Defence permanent-secretary Nipat Thonglek later held talks with him.
Speaking after the meeting, Gen Nipat said he did not give Mr Suthep a formal reception.
Mr Suthep and the other PDRC leaders were accommodated in a small room in the security protection compound, Gen Nipat said.