Ex-PM did not order MPs to quit

BANGKOK, 20 December 2009 (NNT) – The Opposition Puea Thai Party has played down the rumors that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ordered the party MPs to resign.

The New Politics Party earlier claimed that Mr Thaksin had a plan to force 100 Puea Thai MPs to leave the party during the beginning the coming new parliamentary session in 2010 in a bid to press the government for a house dissolution.

As a response, Puea Thai Spokesperson Prompong Nopparit said the New Politics Party should have made its speculation based on facts to avoid discrediting the Opposition party and confusing the public. He also called for the New Politics Party to stop verbally attacking Mr Thaksin.

Mr Prompong stated that any decisions in the party would depend solely on the party’s leader and executives, not Mr Thaksin although he was highly respected by the party members.