Pol Lt-Colonel Korrawat Panprapakorn, DSI deputy director-general, disclosed that his staff had been struggling to solve the mystery of “Billy’s disappearance ever since it stepped in and took over the investigation from the police one year ago. Part of the difficulty had been the length of time that had elapsed.

“We have not been idle. We are continuously trying to dig up more evidence but as this case is already five years old and most of the witnesses are too afraid to speak out, we are finding it very challenging to obtain new evidence,” Korrawat said.

“We are now pursuing a new lead, which could take us to important evidence, but we have to keep it confidential because if it is disclosed it could jeopardise the investigation.”

Billy was campaigning for the human rights of the indigenous Karen community in Phetchaburi’s Kaeng Krachan National Park when he became embroiled in a conflict with national park officers.

He was last seen on April 2014 being arrested by officers under the command of the-then Kaeng Krachan National Park chief Chaiwat Limlikhit-aksorn.

Leading human rights lawyer Surapong Kongchantuk has rejected Korrawat’s claims and insists that the lack of progress in the case cannot be simple blamed on “difficulties” in unearthing new evidence. Instead, he says, it reveals more about the officers’ failure to act to dig up the truth.

“It was very clear from the circumstances before the disappearance of Billy who could be the potential suspect,” Surapong claimed. “Moreover, the DSI also worked with the police from the outset, so it had plenty of opportunities to get hold of important evidence.”

He urged the DSI to be more proactive in furthering the investigation as “Billy”’s disappearance had been key to the failure of the Kaeng Krachan forest complex to be accepted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. He said another reason for the department to do all it could to solve it was that the case had been in the global spotlight as had the alleged serious violations of human rights against the Karen community in Kaeng Krachan National Park.

“I know that they are my political enemies and I am going to take legal action,” he told reporters.

Thammanas, a key figure in the coalition leading Phalang Pracharat Party, has recently been targeted by opposition politicians, who question his qualifications owing to a prison term he served in Australia stemming from a drugs-related offence.

However, Thammanas defended himself by saying he served an eight-month sentence in Australia for failing to report a drug-trafficking deal.

“I did not smuggle, produce or sell drugs and I have no legal cases left in Thai courts,” the politician said.

He added that he is being targeted because he was the key coordinator of recent negotiations to form the new government. “I also know the secrets of many political parties I have worked with,” he said without elaborating.

He also maintained that he has never coveted a seat in the Cabinet, “but I have to work because the prime minister has given me tasks to complete”.

Thammanas added that he considered himself suitable for the job because “I am a child of farmers and grew up with soil”.

Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said yesterday that Bhumjaithai Party will carry out an appraisal of his performance every three months.

The Bhumjaithai Party leader said that he foresaw great progress in his work at the ministry as a result of the evaluation by his party, while pledging good cooperation as a coalition partner with the 18 other parties that have joined the new government.

Anutin reiterated that he would push for his marijuana initiative, which he said would provide good alternatives to modern medicine and general public health service.

Asked about fears of instability of the new government because of its narrow majority in Parliament, Anutin urged all coalition partners to place the country’s interests above that of their parties.

Anutin also vowed healthy cooperation with Public Health officials in doing his work, and said no agencies under his ministry had shown any unwillingness to work with him.

Deputy government spokesman Lt-General Werachon Sukondhapatipak said he was worried that a trip by some Thai politicians to meet European Union (EU) politicians and officials could have a negative impact on Thailand.

Werachon said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s government had acted in the national interest by implementing foreign policies that led to foreign countries being more accepting of the Kingdom’s domestic situation.

“Our allies, including those in the EU, have reacted positively [to the government’s policies]. At the recent G20 summit, leaders from many countries showed their eagerness to cooperate with Thailand in all aspects, particularly trade and investment, on the basis of mutual respect and benefit, and equality. Things are going well,” Werachon quoted Prayut as saying.

The Thai PM recently attended the G20 summit in Japan as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

“The prime minister stressed that the government and officials in all agencies were working hard on the ongoing negotiations with the EU over a free trade agreement. The talks are going well. Its success will benefit the people and the country,” Werachon said.

“But if damage occurs due to the moves by those [opposing] politicians, will they be able to shoulder the responsibility?”

The spokesman did not name anyone but he was obviously referring to a small group of Future Forward Party politicians led by Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.

According to Future Forward, Thanathorn went to Brussels, Belgium, to meet with some EU politicians and officials. They exchanged views about the state of Thai politics since the March 24 general election and cooperation between Thailand and the EU. They are also said to have discussed the global economy in the face of a trade war between the United States and China.

In an interview with Krungthep Turakit newspaper, Buddhipongse also said he would expand the number of pilot centres under the smart cities programme and push for the development of an organic law relating to the current digital laws.

Another priority in his sights is the promotion of the use of digital technology and Big Data by the industrial and service sectors.

Buddhipongse will soon meet with representatives of the state agencies under the ministry’s aegis to present his policies and directions.

Coinciding with the incoming minister’s pledge to stick to the digital transformation path, a senior Cisco executive spoke of the technology giant’s wish that the new government maintain this mission.

Vatsun Thirapatarapong, managing director for Thailand of Cisco, said that the company wants to see the government make concrete plans for the provision of digital solutions in the quest for a digitally in tune government.

Vatsun has urged that the government promote investment in technology to support the shift to the provision of government services by digital channels.

Furthermore, Vatsun said the government should encourage the development of the human resources needed for the digital economy. In particular, the executive cited cybersecurity and networking.

Another priority, Vatsun said, is the need to enforce regulations relating to information technology in order to increase efficiency and to support processes such as video conferencing and workplace transformation. Such moves would boost the competitiveness and productivity of the country as a whole.

A survey by ruling coalition partner Democrat Party on the production and price of agricultural products found that the price of rubber has seen a sharp decline.

The ministry has not taken action yet, as it is waiting for the incoming government to first announce its policies.

“The price of rubber price has dropped considerably and this issue needs to be taken care of,” he said.

The party already has plans to support farmers. However the 2019 government budget, which has not been released yet, could pose challenges, he said.

He urged the Agriculture and Cooperatives, Commerce and Finance ministries to work together to address these issues in the upcoming months.

The issue of drop in agricultural prices and drought should be considered national agenda, said deputy minister Thamanas Phrongphao, attributing the problem of prices to the role of middlemen.

Chalermchai will oversee the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Office of Agricultural Economics, Royal Irrigation Department, Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation and the Rubber Authority of Thailand.

Thamanas is expected to take care of the Office of Agricultural Land Reform, Department of Fisheries, Marketing Organisation for Farmers and the Rice Department.

The other deputy minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Prapat Phothasuthan, is expected to oversee the Department of Agricultural Extension and the Department of Livestock Development.

Thammanas Phromphao, a key figure in the ruling Phalang Pracharat Party and new deputy agriculture minister, was the main target of the opposition attack.

MP Seripisut Temiyavej, leader of the opposition Seri Ruam Thai Party, wondered how Thammanas could take up the Cabinet job after he was allegedly sentenced to jail in Australia for a drug-related offence.

“The Constitution states that anyone who has served time in jail for drug offences is not qualified to become an MP or government minister. The law does not distinguish between imprisonment in Thailand or overseas,” Seripisut said.

He added that the opposition was discussing whether to file a motion for an investigation into the qualifications of other newly appointed Cabinet members.

Deputy Prime Minister and government legal adviser Wissanu Krea-ngam rebuffed the accusation on Thursday, insisting that Thammanas did not lack qualifications for Cabinet.

“Legal facts are one thing and suitability is another matter,” he said, citing constitutional clauses.

Asked about the opposition filing a motion on the matter, Wissanu said: “They have the right to do so.”

Asked if Prime Minister Prayut should take responsibility, Wissanu replied: “I don’t know.”

Politician Ruangkrai Leekitwattana said his research revealed that many newly appointed Cabinet members had problems regarding their qualifications.

These included Wissanu, Suvit Maesincee, Uttama Savanayana and Somkid Jatusripitak.

Ruangkrai was formerly an MP for the opposition Pheu Thai Party and later a key figure in the now-defunct Thai Raksa Chart Party.

MP Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, secretary-general of the opposition Future Forward Party, said on Thursday that the new Cabinet line-up indicated that the incoming government is merely an extension of the outgoing junta.

He pointed out that many junta regime members with military backgrounds or connections have been reappointed.

“The new government is elected but its members have just taken swapped their military attire for business suits. They still have military traits. And I believe they will continue to run the country by centring on the military,” Piyabutr said.

“Out of 10 points, I will give them 5.5,” Chulalongkorn University lecturer Sompong Jitradub said on Thursday of the new ministers in charge of the Education Ministry and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation.

Prayut has named Phalang Pracharat Party deputy leader Nataphol Teepsuwan as education minister. Bhumjaithai Party deputy secretary-general Kanokwan Vilawan and Democrat Party deputy leader Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich are the deputy education ministers. Suvit Maesincee, a deputy leader of Phalang Pracharat Party, is the minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation.

“They are acceptable because they have come from an election and represent various fields,” Sompong said.

He acknowledged Nataphol as a representative of the private sector, Kanokwan as the representative of the local sector, Kalaya as the representative of the science sector, and Suvit as the representative of the innovation sector.

Sompong said these Cabinet members have not been outstanding in terms of their educational policies so far.

“Their parties have had different educational policies. So, we don’t know in which direction they will take Thai education,” he said.

Sompong said he was worried that the country’s educational sector will be more focused on producing graduates for the labour market, further widening inequalities.

The Chula educator urged all the Cabinet members for educational affairs to work together so as to achieve synergy and improve Thai education.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Nathapol thanked Prayut for giving him the post of education minister.

“Entrusted by the prime minister, I will work to my fullest abilities. I will use all my experience in solving the country’s educational problems and drive the Education Ministry’s policies,” he said.

The new education minister urged everyone, including parents and students, to join efforts towards improving education in the country.

“Let’s work together and move forward together,” Nataphol said.

The Asean defence ministers acknowledged Prawit’s elevation in the Cabinet before he opened the 13th Asean defence ministers meeting (ADMM)in Bangkok.

Prawit chaired the meeting in his last duty as defence chief before taking up his position as deputy prime minister.

The meeting was attended by defence ministers from Asean nations and the Asean secretary general to discuss security cooperation and to ratify the cooperation framework as well as to discuss preparations for the ADMM-Plus meeting in November.

The defence ministers also signed a contract on security cooperation among the 10 Asean nations. The Asean secretary general late announced the outcomes of the meeting.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Prawit said the meeting was successful thanks to the hard work of agencies under the defence ministries of the Asean states and the secretary general.

The signing of the contract showed the Asean countries’ commitment to sustainable cooperation in security affairs for the sake of peace, stability and prosperity. The grouping said it would maintain its neutrality.

Prawit said the Thai Defence Ministry proposed security cooperation ideas for 2019 under the theme of sustainable security to increase efficiency in security cooperation.

Prawit said the meeting also acknowledged the roles of Asean military agencies in tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

At the meeting, six contracts were signed on cooperation to combat threats against the region. These comprise an evaluation of ADMM’s initiatives, for the role of Asean military in border management, for the expansion of Asean members to dialogue partners, on the scope of operations for the Asean Our Eyes project, on the establishment of a mechanism for holding Asean military medicine, as well as for a code of conduct on maritime ties.

Prawit said the meeting also highlighted the significance of compliance with contracts related to the dispute over the South China Sea and the meeting also highlighted the drafting of the code of conduct for affected countries in the South China Sea. The meeting attached importance to peace and stability and the safety of navigation in the South China Sea and for flights over the disputed zone.

Chatu Mongol, who is the leader of the Action Coalition of Thailand (ACT) Party, was the number 1 party-list candidate.

Now that he has stepped down as the ACT party-list MP, the next one on the list, ACT secretary general Thaweesak Na-Takuathung, will automatically fill the House seat.