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UDD icon Jatuporn Prompan (inset)
is calling red shirt members back to the streets -
because he believes rumours that the military is planning a coup in April,
and protests can stop it
RED SHIRTS
Jatuporn in mass protest call to deter coup plotters
Red shirt co-leader Jatuporn Prompan has claimed there could be a coup in April making it necessary for the red shirts to renew their mass protests to pre-empt any such attempt.
Mr Jatuporn, a list MP for the ruling Pheu Thai Party, said yesterday that members of his United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and his associates who work with US intelligence told him there could be a coup d'etat which could bring about a change of government in April.
The UDD would move to prevent the coup. The group will stage a concert on Feb 25 and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will speak to his supporters via a video call from abroad.
Mr Jatuporn said the gathering of red shirt supporters should discourage anyone who might be plotting a coup.
Nisit Sinthuphrai, another UDD leader, said the movement's leadership met in Nakhon Nayok two days ago and agreed that the present political situation could be the spark leading to a power revolt.
The UDD should stage anti-coup protests, he said, adding that red shirts should also press their demand for a charter rewrite.
He likened the planned Feb 25 concert to preparations for battle.
Meanwhile, Deputy Agriculture Minister Nattawut Saikuar said yesterday he has no plan to apologise to Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda over the UDD's past criticism of the statesman.
Mr Nattawut, a UDD core leader, said the organisation was launched as part of a quest for full democracy.
During political rallies, the UDD has attacked Gen Prem, believing he helped engineer the Sept 19, 2006 coup that toppled premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
Mr Nattawut insisted he had no personal grievance against Gen Prem.
He said neither he nor Gen Prem expected an apology from one another. He said he saw no need to apologise because the issue at stake was the pursuit of democracy.
"But the people are waiting for national reconciliation to materialise, unity to be restored and democracy to be achieved," he said.
Gen Prem has accepted an invitation to preside over a party tomorrow to thank agencies involved in flood relief under the now-closed Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc).
Mr Nattawut said he will attend the party as a cabinet member, as it is an important event for the government. But he maintained he and Gen Prem had "no special agenda" to discuss during the party, and he did not want to be anyone's enemy.
The opposition has decried the party, saying it is in poor taste given that many people are still upset about the state's flood response last year, and still waiting for promised post-flood cash relief.
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PM downplays Jatuporn coup claim
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday played down Jatuporn Prompan's claims there could be a coup in April and his call for red-shirts to prepare to return to the streets in mass protest.
Ms Yingluck it was more likely Mr Jatuporn's comments were intended only as a deterrent.
Mr Jatuporn, a Pheu Thai Party list MP, said on Wednesday that there could be a coup planned for April.
He claimed that UDD members and his "associates who work with US intelligence" told him about this and he called for the red-shirts to be prepared to renew mass protests to pre-empt any such attempt.
Mr Jatuporn said the protests should discourage anyone who might be plotting a coup.
Ms Yingluck said she had not received any official report of the information Mr Jatuporn claimed to have obtained.
She said that since the leaders of the armed forces had repeatedly confirmed there would not be a coup, everybody should rest assured that it would not happen.
"Mr Jatuporn, in making such remarks, might only want to pre-empt it happening. Since everyone has given assurances that will not happen, this matter should be put to an end," said the prime minister.
Asked whether she would rebuke Mr Jatuporn, Ms Yingluck said everybody had the right to express an opinion, but should uinderstand the limits.
Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat, when asked to comment, said Mr Jatuporn should keep quiet.
"Mr Jatuporn talks too much. He should not talk about this matter. It would be good if he could stop doing this," he said.
ACM Sukumpol said if he happened to meet Mr Jatuporn he would tell the red-shirt co-leader to calm down. He believed Mr Jatuporn would listen to him.
"I wonder why US intelligence would tell Mr Jatuporn (about the coup), but not tell us. This is ridiculous," he said.
The defence minister said he had repeatedly said there would not be a coup because nobody wanted to do it. http://www.bangko...up-remarks
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Prayuth says no need to give no-coup promise to Jatuporn
Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said Friday that he has no need to give a promise to Pheu Thai party-list MP and red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan that he would not stage a coup.
Prayuth said Jatuporn was not his commander so he needed not to give any promise to Jatuporn.
"My commander is Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat so others have nothing to do with me," Prayuth said.
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