Thais should not give weight to the anti-coup organisation-in-exile set up by former interior minister and ex-Pheu Thai leader Charupong Ruangsuwan as it was not capable of creating an impact on the country, the junta said Wednesday.
Col Winthai Suvaree, spokesman for the National Council for Peace and Order, said the NCPO was not closely monitoring the group and was not paying any particular attention to it.
The NCPO would only respond to movements or reports that actually affect people’s perception of the junta, he said, not those creating a buzz for political purposes.
“I believe most news consumers have enough discretion to understand them and are not attaching much importance to them, nor do they trust all the information they receive,” Col Winthai said.
A day earlier, Mr Charupong announced the launch of the Organisation of Free Thais for Human Rights and Democracy (FT-HD) in a video clip on YouTube, while Jakrapob Penkair, a fugitive former PM’s Office minister who faces lese majeste charges, announced it in English.
Col Winthai said most foreign countries would not allow such a movement to operate on their territory as it could provoke unrest within their own borders.
Meanwhile, the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship distanced itself from Mr Charupong and Mr Jakrapob, a move similar to that of the Pheu Thai Party.
UDD ex-chair and key leader Tida Tawornseth said while she viewed the pair as fellow red shirts, their activities with FT-HD had nothing to do with the UDD.