Thai protest leader explains demand for 'people's council'

Thailand's anti-government protest leader has explained for the first time what he meant by establishing a "people's council" to replace the incumbent government, the Bangkok Post reported Wednesday. Addressing protestors on Tuesday night, Suthep Thaugsuban said he would like to invoke Section 7 of the Constitution and have a prime minister appointed by the king. The sovereign power, which the constitution vests in Thai people, will return to people once the so-called "Thaksin regime" is uprooted, Suthep was quoted as saying. People from all walks of life will choose representatives from all professions to form a "people's council", he said. Acting as a legislative body, the council will amend laws and regulations, as well as carry out a reform plan in the country, he added. "Decent people" with no political party affiliations will be selected by the council to be an interim prime minister and form an interim government, according to Suthep. The interim government will implement the council's reform plan, including restructuring the police force to subject it to people's supervision, and decentralizing power to provincial governors, Suthep said. The council's mission will be ended once the reform is successfully completed and a general election held, he added. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has rejected the demand for a "people's council," saying she did not know how to make that happen under the Constitution.