Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dapong Ratanasuwan Tuesday admitted he officially appointed PDRC co-leader Chitpas Kridakon to his working team last year, but said the Singha beer heiress’ work was complete.
Gen Dapong was responding to questions over the authenticity of a document dated Dec 30 that showed a name list of people, including Ms Chitpas, who had been appointed to a working group for Gen Dapong. The document currently circulating on the Internet bore the minister's signature and sparked sharp criticism and condemnation from PDRC opponents.
Gen Dapong admitted the document was authentic and that he did endorse Ms Chitpas's appointment. However, he confirmed the key PDRC figure currently wasn't part of the group, as she had completed the tasks assigned to her.
Chitpas Kridakon (Bangkok Post file photo)
Gen Dapong declined to elaborate on Ms Chitpas's job responsibilities on the panel, saying only she was a person with versatile abilities and her group oversaw several ministerial tasks.
The 29-nine-year-old former Democrat Party spokeswoman was one of the key leaders of the People's Democratic Reform Committee, which staged long-running protests against the Yingluck Shinawatra government before the military coup on May 22.
She and other PDRC leaders, including Phra Suthep Prapakaro, face numerous serious charges in connection with their protests to oust the Yingluck administration. Public prosecutors will decide on March 5 whether to indict Ms Chitpas and her colleagues on insurrection charges.
She was forced by her family to change her surname from Bhirombhakdhi to her mother's maiden name of Kridakon last year so she could continue with her political activities.