State unions to stop work; Capo on 'high alert'

State unions to stop work; Capo on 'high alert'

State enterprise labour unions will stop work from May 22 to show disapproval of the Thaksin regime and those government officials that "serve as its lackeys", State Enterprises Workers’ Relation Confederation secretary-general Komsan Thongsiri said on Sunday.

Mr Komsan said this was one of five resolutions made at a meeting between representatives of state enterprise labour unions and People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban at the Government House's Santi Maitree building on Sunday.

The meeting was intended to lay down an operational plan to retake sovereign power.

The five resolutions reached at the meeting are for all state enterprise labour unions and their members to do as follows:

Key figures of the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) meet representatives of state enterprise labour unions at Government House on Sunday, May 18, 2014. (Photo by Weerawong Wongpreedee)

-  Issue a statement to disregard the Thaksin regime and officials serving as its lackeys;

-  Erect signboards to disapprove of the Thaksin regime and such officials;

-  Display a sign of civil disobedience against the regime by affixing a national flag or other symbols on their vehicles or workplaces;

-  Join PDRC's operations on May 19 to 21 to retake state power; and

-  Go on a work stoppage from May 22.

"If the government does not return power to the people, we will resort to stringent measures with our tools on hand to bring victory to the people.

"We call for the government, particularly the remaining ministers, to resign and return power to the people as soon as possible," he said.

Mr Komsan said the confederation would not resort to cutting power or water supplies.

Meanwhile, Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order deputy spokesman Krisana Pattanacharoen said Capo will be on high alert until May 26 and will keep a close eye on the activities of the PDRC and the pro-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).

Pol Col Krisana said teams have been set up to monitor all movements of the PDRC, UDD and other groups after the PDRC announced it would conclude its anti-government operations by May 26.

Capo was concerned there might be a violent reaction by third parties to cause disturbances for self-interest.

He said the centre was warning government officials not to join a meeting with the PDRC because in doing so they could be subject to legal charges such as supporting wrongdoing since many PDRC core members have been charged with treason.

All sides should turn to one another to find a way out for the country through democratic means otherwise the situation could turn violent and develop into civil war, Pol Col Krisana said.

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said anti-government protest leader Suthep will not be successful in his bid to hunt down acting caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boongsongpaisan and other ministers to force them resign.

Mr Prompong said Pheu Thai's legal team viewed Mr Suthep's announcement to hound Mr Niwattumrong as unlawful since forcing the acting premier and his caretaker ministers to resign was a criminal act. The Department of Special Investigation was following up this issue, he added.

"I believe Mr Suthep, in doing so, will not be successful. On his announcement to surrender to police on May 27 if his plan to bring down the government fails, I don't believe he will do so," he said.

Mr Prompong said he believed the PDRC rally would continue. Mr Suthep had announced an end to the rally 11 times, with the latest being the 12th, all to no avail, he said.

"I heard that private firms which had provided a feed pipeline to the PDRC rally have quit because the assaults on people by PDRC guards are not acceptable to them. This has made Mr Suthep announce that the operation between May 19 and 26 will be the last - the last days to rob the government of state power," he said.

The spokesman urged Mr Suthep to stop taking the country hostage and allow the Thai people to decide the country's future through an election, otherwise he will lose and the Democrat Party will be punished by the people in next election.

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