BANGKOK, Feb 13 — Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said today that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has no intention to prosecute his predecessor Yingluck Shinawatra related to her ongoing trial on charges of dereliction of duty for failing to stop massive corruption and losses in the rice-pledging scheme sponsored by her toppled government.
Gen Prayut, also leader of NCPO which took administrative power last May 22 from the Yingluck administration, reiterated that the ex-premier had told him while he was army chief and she was premier that she was prepared to fight charges because the rice-pledging programme benefitted farmers in the kingdom.
The NCPO has never thought of punishing anybody in particular, especially Ms Yingluck, he said.
On January 23, members of the National Legislative Assembly voted to impeach Ms Yingluck, forcing her to immediately leave political affairs for five years.
On the same day the Office of the Attorney-General filed criminal charges against her on the corruption tainted scheme.
In another development, Gen Prayut told journalists that he intended to grant concessions to successful bidders for the 21st round of petroleum exploration in Thailand, reasoning that it is “necessary for the country to have energy in reserves for consumption in the next six years.”
Gen Prayut said he had ordered the Energy Ministry to explain to those opposing the planned oil exploration and the need for the country to have oil in reserve.
If the programme is cancelled due to the opposition and the country does not have sufficient energy for consumption then someone will have to take the responsibility, he said.
Neighbouring countries next year will reduce their natural gas supply to Thailand, so those opposing the programme will have to debate the pros and cons to inform society whether it should proceed, he added. (MCOT online news)
