Governor leads oath of allegiance

PA KHLOK, PHUKET: Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop yesterday morning led a large number of government officers and local politicians from across Thalang District in a ceremony swearing their allegiance to HM The King and the rule of law.

The ceremony, held at the Pa Khlok Administration Office, was held to mark “Senior’s Day” in Pa Khlok, as the entire month of April has been designated as National Month of the Elderly in Thailand.

Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop presided over the event, which was attended by Thalang District Chief Chaiwat Tapee, Pa Khlok Tambon Administration Organization President Athipong Kongnam and more than 20 tambon chiefs and village headmen from throughout the district.

A similar event was held in tambon Wichit later in the day.

At Pa Khlok, Gov Wichai asked the officials to do their best to follow the government’s policy of maintaining social harmony during the current political crisis, which has seen up to 100,000 red-shirted supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra demonstrating in the capital in the hope of pressuring current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to step down.

The government wants kamnan to make people in their areas avoid joining the red-shirt movement, which sacrifices the good of the entire country for the benefit a single individual, said Gov Wichai in an obvious reference to Mr Thaksin.

The focal point of the event was a group pledge, in front of a portrait of HM The King, to protect the king, preserve democracy and abide by the rule of law.

Also on hand representing the Abhisit government was Phuket Member of Parliament Tossaporn Thepabutra, who said the government will go ahead with hosting the two-day Asean+3 and Asean+6 summit meeting, which started in Pattaya this morning.

The Asean summit is an important meeting that will co-ordinate a regional response to the economic downturn facing all its members, Mr Tossaporn said.

— Kamol Pirat