Bangkok: Prime Minister Thongsak affirmed that the government is not worried about the protests led by Sondhi, stating that differing opinions are a right under the law, but urged them not to affect the public. He added that the government is open to listening to all differing opinions but has not yet invited Sondhi for discussions after the Prime Minister instructed that no protests surround Government House, requesting cooperation from those outside a 50-meter radius. He declined to answer whether the government would incite protests, saying that there are alternative ways to express opinions on social media instead of holding demonstrations.
According to Thai News Agency, Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thongsri commented on whether the demonstrations led by Sondhi Limthongkul, former leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, would affect the government, stating that it was a normal occurrence. He said that people have the right to disagree and express their opinions, as Thai law grants such rights, but these rights must not infringe upon the rights of others. He added that there was no need to worry excessively, but urged that the exercise of these legally protected rights not infringe upon the rights of others, such as disrupting honest livelihoods during the demonstrations.
When asked if the government was not concerned about this protest, Mr. Songsak said that the Prime Minister was not worried about these matters at all. The Prime Minister had assigned him to oversee the situation when people gather for various demonstrations, and he said his duty was to receive petitions, communicate with the protesters, and give them an opportunity to express their opinions, even those differing from the government. He added that differing opinions are not harmful and can be reconciled. Sometimes people think differently, even if their aspirations are the same regarding the benefit of the country, their reasons may differ and they may not understand each other.
Regarding whether Mr. Songsak believes Mr. Sonthi's protest could incite further unrest, he said that communication has changed, with a strong emphasis on social media. He believes that people may perceive protests as infringing on the rights of others and therefore may be reluctant to participate, instead opting to express their opinions through social media, such as comments. When asked if the Prime Minister had previously instructed the Cabinet meeting that they did not want protesters surrounding Government House, and whether there would be an opportunity to invite Mr. Sonthi for discussions, Mr. Songsak replied that he would review the information first. He added that many protesting groups have been asked to cooperate, and everyone understands the situation. Today, there are designated areas where protest leaders can gather where the law does not prohibit protests, as gathering within a 50-meter radius of Government House requires cooperation.
When asked whether he assessed whether Sondhi's protests, which have consistently attacked the government, had any hidden agenda, Mr. Songsak said that judging from the media, people who agree with the government rarely make headlines or attract much attention. However, those who offer opinions that reflect a different perspective on the government become more interesting and are followed closely, whether or not people believe them is unknown. For example, he himself looks at Facebook or political news; if it praises the government, he'll just glance at it. But if it points out that the government is doing something wrong, he has to check if they truly believe it, if they understand correctly, and how they will solve the problem. He believes it can be beneficial, but it's their right to pursue their own agenda.