When the organic law on political parties took effect in the first week of October, the NCPO said the lifting of the ban had to wait at least until the Royal Cremation Ceremony was completed. Watana Muangsook, a leading member of the Pheu Thai Party, wrote on Facebook on Monday, slamming the junta for having “no shame” in saying that it had not convened about the matter. Describing the junta administration as inefficient, Watana said it should stop playing for time and hurry to lift the ban in order to take the country towards democracy. With the ban still in place, Somsak said that political parties had lost the opportunity to make arrangements in line with the new law. For his own party, he said they were merely preparing to complete the arrangements as required by the new law.

Source: The Nation Bangkok October 30, 2017 10:07 UTC