Bangkok, May 28 (IANS): The Thai military junta Wednesday released several leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), or Red shirts, who had been detained for seven days, while former premier Yingluck was confirmed not under house arrest in Bangkok.
The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) released UDD chairman Jatuporn Prompan, Nuttawut Saikuar, Pracha Promnog, Virakarn Musigapong Weng Tojirakarn and Thida Tavonseth, Xinhua reported.
Meanwhile, former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra was confirmed staying in Bangkok and not under house arrest, the Bangkok Post Wednesday quoted a reliable source at NCPO as saying.
Yingluck is allowed to travel freely in the country, but cannot leave Thailand, and has to inform the NCPO if going outside Bangkok, the source said.
Yingluck was held in army custody for one night at the 1st Division headquarter, after reporting to the NCPO last Friday at the request of the military junta.
Thai army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha, who was later endorsed as chief of the NCPO, declared a coup last Thursday, and summoned prominent figures, including politicians, scholars, businessmen, among others.
Also Wednesday, media reported that the Thai military junta announced the transfer of 24 more officers to inactive positions and also set out an eight-point plan for national administration, media reported Wednesday.
The officers, including eight provincial governors and 16 senior police officers, will be sent to the interior ministry and national police headquarters, respectively, Xinhua reported.
The transfers of provincial governors come into effect from June 2, while the transfers of police officers came into effect immediately after the announcement Tuesday night.
In another move, Thai coup leader Prayuth Chan-ocha, who is leader of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), has set out eight measures to promote national unity by stamping out colour-coded political and social divisions, targeting national reform.
Promoting national unity is a part of NCPO's plan to end the country's political conflict, and the first step of the plan is to take control of national administration, the Bangkok Post Wednesday quoted deputy army spokesman Winthai Suvaree as saying.
Enacting an interim constitution, forming an interim government, establishing a national reform assembly and legislative assembly are among the steps that will be taken, while holding elections after reform is the final one, Winthai said.
The NCPO has assured that it will only oversee national administration and follow through on the work of state agencies without disrupting their normal functioning, Winthai said, adding that the NCPO has appointed six advisors on five issues, with former defence minister General Prawit Wongsuwan leading the team.
Retired General Anupong Paochinda will oversee security measures, former finance minister Somkid Jatusripitak foreign affairs, ex-Bank of Thailand governor Pridiyathorn Devakula and ex-commerce minister Narongchai Akrasanee economy, while ex-secretary-general to the cabinet Wissanu Krea-ngam will oversee legal affairs.