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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40020111

Navy Chief To Let Successor Decide On Buying Subs With Chinese Engines

BY LINE : THE NATION

THU, SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

Retiring Royal Thai Navy Commander-In-Chief Admiral Somprasong Nilasmai Has Left It To His Successor To Decide On Whether To Buy S26T Yuan-Class Submarines With Chinese Engines, A Source Said.

Somprasong, who will retire at the end of this month, will be succeeded by Admiral Choengchai Chomchoengpaet, assistant Navy commander.

The source said Somprasong wanted to let Choengchai decide on whether to go ahead with the procurement of the second S26T Yuan-class submarine now that China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC) has confirmed it could not honour the contract of supplying a German-made MTU396 diesel engine.

The German company has expressed its inability to supply the engine due to an European Union arms embargo.

Last month, the CSOC sent the specifications of an improved CHD 620 engine to the Royal Thai Navy to consider after the company admitted it could not get the German-made engine.

Navy spokesman Vice Admiral Pokkrong Monthatpalin said on Thursday that the technical division of the Royal Thai Naval Dockyard has summarised the pros and cons of using the improved version of the CHD 620 engine instead of MTU396 for the Navy chief to consider.

Pokkrong said the Navy chief would soon present the report to the committee in charge of procuring the submarine and the Navy would inform the public about its decision later.

The Royal Thai Navy bought its first Yuan-class S26T submarine from China in 2017 for 13.5 billion baht.

The delivery of the second submarine was initially scheduled for September 2023 but it is expected to be delayed to 2024 because of the engine issue.

The procurement has been stuck because the Chinese firm could not honour the contract of supplying the submarines with the MTU396 engine. The ball is now in Thailand’s court but international observers believe Bangkok could risk upsetting Beijing if it scraps the deal. Some observers believe a decision on the project might be deferred until after the next election.

A source from the Royal Thai Naval Dockyard said many senior officers there are opposed to the use of CHD 620 engine, arguing that it has never been used even in Chinese submarines.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40020103

Second Reading Of Cannabis Bill Aborted Due To ‘Too Many Additions’

BY LINE : THE NATION

THU, SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

The House Of Representatives Has Sent The Controversial Cannabis And Hemp Control Bill Back To The Vetting Panel Because Too Many New Sections Have Been Added To The Original Draft, The Opposition Pheu Thai Party Said On Thursday.

Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert Chanruangthong said the decision of the majority of MPs to return the draft to the vetting panel had nothing to do with politics or conflicts between two key ruling coalition partners – Bhumjaithai Party and Democrat Party.

On Wednesday, the House voted 198 to 136 to send the draft back to the ad hoc House panel instead of taking up the second reading as scheduled. A total of 12 MPs abstained.

The bill was sponsored by the Public Health Ministry under control of ruling coalition partner Bhumjaithai, which championed a free ganja policy during the campaign for the general election in 2019. The ministry had issued a directive to lift marijuana and hemp from the Category 5 Narcotics List before proposing the control bill to the House.

Before the House could begin the second reading, the Democrat Party announced on Wednesday that it would ask the vetting panel to take it back for amendments. The Democrats said they could not accept the vetted draft because the party saw that the version would promote growing of marijuana for recreational use.

“This is not a political issue,” Prasert clarified on Thursday.

“The ad hoc panel has finished its homework and sent it for consideration by MPs. The homework was to make a pair of shorts but MPs found that the ad hoc panel had sent back a pair of trousers.”

Prasert explained that the original draft, which had passed the first reading, had just over 40 sections but after it was vetted, the number of sections rose to over 90.

“This is an unprecedented increase in new sections during the vetting of a bill. It would have been acceptable if only four or five sections had been added but it was unusual to see over 40 new sections added to the original draft,” Prasert said.

He said had the House proceeded with the second reading, the deliberations would have been difficult because a lot changes would have had to be made.

“So, asking the panel to review the draft would be more in public interest,” Prasert added.

He said the vetting panel had gone too far to change the original draft to indirectly allow recreational use of ganja.

“Several sides have voiced opposition to the vetted draft. This is a sensitive issue and the bill will have an impact on the use of marijuana in the future,” Prasert said.

Meanwhile, Move Forward Party MP Chaithawat Tulathon said the Public Health Ministry should also scrap its directive on ganja and wait for the bill to be enacted.

Chaithawat said removing ganja from the list of narcotics without a control law in place has created a vacuum that has led to abuse of the plant.

Most Move Forward MPs voted to send the draft back to the vetting panel. Only MP Nattapon Suebsakwong voted against sending the draft back.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40020102

Former Public Health Minister Witthaya Collapses, Dies At 63

BY LINE : THE NATION

THU, SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

Former Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri Collapsed During Breakfast At His Ayutthaya Home And Was Pronounced Dead At Hospital Hours Later. He Was 63.

Ayutthaya’s former deputy governor Nathee Borsuwan said he was having breakfast with Witthaya at the ex-minister’s house in Bang Pa-in district at 8.30 and was discussing the flood situation when Witthaya collapsed.

Nathee said he and other friends rushed Witthaya to the Bang Pa-in hospital and the hospital tried to resuscitate him but he did not regain consciousness, so he was taken to Rangsit’s Thammasat University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of his death.

Nathee said he and other friends had noticed that Witthaya apparently had heart issues, but he declined to see a doctor, saying he was still healthy and strong.

According to Nathee, Witthaya had been helping tentative Pheu Thai election candidates campaign in Ayutthaya in recent days.

Witthaya, who was the public health minister in the 60th Cabinet, had been elected Ayutthaya MP several times. He used to be a Pheu Thai deputy leader and former chairman of the coalition parliamentary affairs coordination committee, or chief government whip.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40020074

Democrat Party To Oppose Cannabis Bill In Second Reading

BY LINE : THE NATION

WED, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

The Democrat Party Announced On Wednesday That It Could Not Support The Hemp And Cannabis Control Bill In The Second Reading Due To Health Concerns Of Doctors, Teachers And Parents.

The party held a press conference to announce that its meeting on Tuesday had resolved to ask a special House committee, which had vetted the bill, to withdraw the draft. The party wants it suspended pending a decision by the Public Health Ministry on whether to annul its directive on removing cannabis from the narcotics list amid calls by the public.

Democrat MP Satit Wongnongtoey told the press conference that the party had held a meeting on Tuesday and many party MPs had discussed the issue.

He said the party’s resolution was based on concerns of doctors and the narcotics research centre of Chulalongkorn University’s Public Health Science College that the bill would have severe negative impacts on society, especially on children and the youth.

During the meeting, the Democrat MPs discussed that the delisting of cannabis from the Category 5 Narcotics List in early June had led to abuse of the substance and many had suffered mental issues and it had harmed the people, causing concern among parents and teachers.

Satit said the Democrat Party initially supported the bill in principle in the first reading, expecting the bill to be vetted to include sections that would support the use of cannabis for medical purposes only.

But after the bill had been vetted and returned to the House for the second reading, the Democrats found it still had several loopholes, including:

– The bill would still promote and encourage the public to grow marijuana.

– The bill would allow general members of the public to grow marijuana.

Satit said Democrats disagreed with the policy of allowing the public to grow marijuana because it would have no use for medical purpose, and instead the people could plant marijuana for recreational use.

Satit said the party had made two resolutions:

– The government and the Public Health Ministry must review the public health directive that removed marijuana from the narcotics list and reinstate it on the list.

– The bill’s loopholes must be plugged to prevent recreational use of marijuana.

Satit said the panel that vetted the bill must withdraw the draft and must revise it after the Public Health Ministry has reconsidered its directive.

Satit said the Democrat Party called on the Public Health Ministry to remove only hemp from the narcotics list and allow the use of marijuana strictly for medical purposes.

Satit said when the House deliberates the bill in the second reading, Democrat MPs will debate against it if the ad hoc panel does not withdraw it for amendments.

He said the Democrat Party would inform the coalition whips of its stand and explain that its resolution was based on the opinions of the people, medical circle, parents and teachers.

The party has no ulterior political motive and it hoped the coalition partner that proposed the bill would understand, Satit said.

He was referring to Bhumjaithai Party of Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. During the previous election, the party had campaigned on the policy to remove marijuana from the narcotics list.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40020070

Constitutional Court To Decide Prayut’s Fate As PM On Sept 30

BY LINE : THE NATION

WED, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

The Constitutional Court Announced On Wednesday That It Would Issue A Ruling On General Prayut Chan-O-Cha’s Tenure As Prime Minister On September 30.

The court held a meeting on Wednesday to consider all the documents it had received and found it had enough information to make a decision in the case that was taken up on a petition by opposition MPs.

The court announced that it had not ended the inquiry process and would have each of the 10 judges in the case announce their decision in the room on the third floor of the Constitutional Court at 3pm on September 30. The official court ruling will be compiled from the opinions of individual judges.

The court on August 24 suspended Prayut from serving as prime minister after it accepted a petition for review on whether he had reached the eight-year limit set for prime minister by the Constitution on August 24, as claimed by the opposition.

Initially, the court sought statements from Prayut, Meechai Ruchuphan, the former chairman of the now-defunct CDC, and Pakorn Nilprapun, former secretary of the CDC.

The court later sought the minutes of the 501st CDC meeting because Meechai had stated in writing to the court that his views expressed during the 500th meeting had been incompletely circulated by the side that argued Prayut’s term should end on August 24.

The House of Representatives Secretariat sent the minutes of the 501st CDC meeting to the court on Tuesday and the court reviewed it on Wednesday and came up with the ruling schedule.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40020045

Constitutional Court To Meet Wednesday To Consider Prayut’s Tenure Case

BY LINE : THE NATION

TUE, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

Constitutional Court Judges Are Tomorrow Expected To Begin Deliberating On Whether Suspended Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha Has Exceeded His Term Limit.

The court has received statements from Prayut and two former members of the 2017 Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), ex-chairman Meechai Ruchuphan and ex-secretary Pakorn Nilprapun.

However, Wednesday’s meeting was scheduled one day after it received the minutes of the CDC’s 501st meeting, held on September 11, 2018.

The court demanded to see the minutes after Meechai wrote in his statement that views he expressed during the 500th meeting had been misrepresented by those arguing that Prayut’s term ended on August 24.

In his statement, Meechai said Prayut’s eight-year term as premier should be counted from April 6, 2017, when the current Constitution was promulgated.

On Wednesday, the court is expected to announce that it has enough evidence to make a decision on Prayut’s tenure within the next 15 days, the timeline for a ruling in such cases.

The case stems from a petition lodged by the opposition, which asked the court to rule on whether Prayut’s eight-year term ended on August 24.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40020025

Peace, Happiness, PM’s Post: Anutin’s Wishes On His 56th Birthday

BY LINE : THE NATION

TUE, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Who Turned 56 On Tuesday, Told The Press With A Chuckle That One Of His Birthday Wishes Was To Become The Prime Minister.

Anutin, who is also public health minister and leader of coalition partner Bhumjaithai, told the press that as a birthday blessing, he wanted to see all MPs from his party working to the best of their abilities. He also wants to see them “keep the promises they made”.

“I want to see our country free of quarrels and the people filled with happiness. I will do anything to see this happen,” he said.

When asked who he wished to see as prime minister, he laughingly said “probably myself”.

However, he told the press to “calm down” when reporters asked “did you mean the next prime minister?”, saying that at present he was only focusing on his duties.

“I always believed that with hard work and dedication, we can accomplish anything, no matter how difficult it is,” he said.

Anutin added that he will later call on General Prayut Chan-o-cha to seek birthday blessings.

With his premiership suspended, Prayut is waiting for the Constitutional Court’s ruling on whether or not his tenure as PM should be deemed expired since August – in line with the charter limiting a PM’s tenure to eight years.

The entire country is eagerly waiting for the court verdict, which could essentially determine if Thailand will get a new prime minister.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40020009

Activist Gets 2 Years In Jail For Protesting ‘In Pink’

BY LINE : THE NATION

MON, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

A 23-Year-Old Pro-Democracy Activist Was Sentenced To Two Years In Jail For Allegedly Mocking A Member Of The Royal Family In A “Fashion Show” During A 2020 Rally.

The court on Monday found Jatuporn “New” Sae-Ung guilty of violating both Section 112 of the Criminal Code or lese majeste act and the law against public demonstration.

She was one of two protesters arrested for allegedly poking fun at a royal during a rally held by the Rassadorn Group in Silom on October 29, 2020.

As part of the demonstration, the group held a “fashion show”, which saw Jatuporn clad in a pink traditional dress, walking down the catwalk. Apart from other protesters yelling “long live, long live”, the fashion show ended without a speech.

It is believed the so-called fashion show was held to protest against the 13-million baht budget given to the Commerce Ministry to showcase the Sirivannavari brand overseas. The brand is owned by Princess Sirivannavari.

Jatuporn’s lawyer Weeranan Uadsri confirmed that the court had found her guilty of two charges and had initially sentenced her to three years for lese majeste and a 1,500 baht fine for violating the public demonstration act.

However, the court commuted the penalties by a third, to two years in jail and a fine of 1,000 baht on grounds that her testimony in court was quite useful.

Weeranan said the defence is seeking bail to appeal against the ruling. Jatuporn showed up in court dressed in pink. Accompanying her were some friends.

Before entering the court, she insisted she had joined the “fashion show” innocently.

“I was not imitating anyone. I didn’t ask anyone to bow to me or shout ‘long live’,” she said, adding she was being prosecuted over a misunderstanding.

Jatuporn and 16-year-old Noppasin Treelayapewat were indicted for lese majeste on July 15, 2021. As of press time, there were no reports on Noppasin.

According to the thaipoliticalprisoners website, a complaint had been filed against the pair by a royalist, who claimed Jatuporn “ridiculed the Queen by wearing a pink Thai traditional dress to the fashion show and walking along a red carpet under an umbrella held by another protester”.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40020007

Analysis: Govt Reeling As Anutin Switches To Thaksin’s Side Ahead Of Election

BY LINE : THE NATION

MON, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

The Bhumjaithai Party Last Week Broke Ranks With The Ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) By Voting For A Bill To End The Senates’ Power To Select The Prime Minister.

Pundits see Bhumjaithai’s move as a cunning power play by its leader, Deputy PM and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, ahead of the next general election. The election must be called by March when the House of Representatives’ four-year term expires.

Political analysts say Anutin has noted the waning popularity of generals Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prawit Wongsuwan and Anupong “Pok” Paochinda – the so-called 3Ps who have ruled Thailand since the 2014 coup.

The observers believe Anutin realised the trio was losing its grip on power after Gen Prayut was suspended as PM pending a Constitutional Court ruling on whether his eight-year tenure expired on August 24.

However, the so-called pro-democracy opposition parties suffered a blow when the bill to end the Senate’s power in electing the prime minister was shot down at the first reading. It failed to win the required support of 364 MPs and 84 senators during a joint sitting of Parliament on Wednesday.

Over the weekend, Anutin explained why his party had joined the Democrats and opposition parties to vote in support of the bill. The PPRP and most senators voted against the bill since the ruling party is relying on Senate support to get its prime minister candidate elected – just as it did for Gen Prayut in 2019.

Anutin questioned the fairness of allowing unelected Senators to decide who becomes PM.

“If a candidate has support from 250 MPs but senators elect another politician as the prime minister, that candidate will be the most pitiful person in the world,” he said.

Observers believe Anutin is preparing for a tenure ruling against Prayut. Hence he is distancing himself from the PPRP in expectation of forming a coalition government with the Pheu Thai Party, widely believed to be controlled by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Pundits reckon Anutin was under pressure to show Thaksin that he has switched sides, so he chose to vote for the bill.

Thaksin, who was ousted by the 2006 coup and has lived overseas since a 2018 conviction for corruption, had earlier criticised Anutin during a talk on the Clubhouse platform.

“Don’t’ believe Anutin. He once said he would not elect Prayut as prime minister but eventually he elected Prayut Chan-o-cha,” Thaksin said.

Anutin then sought to explain why his party had supported Prayut for PM four years ago.

He claimed he had initially planned to join a Pheu Thai-led coalition government but it failed to gather the required majority of 375 MPs.

“I feared the country would erupt in turmoil, so I joined the PPRP-led coalition,” Anutin said.

Pundits said it was not surprising to see Anutin change colours as he is seen as “a man for all seasons”.

Under the junta led by the “3 P” generals, Anutin distanced himself from Pheu Thai by portraying his party as non-partisan and ready to work with any side. Now, however, he is playing the democratic card.

Political observers point to Anutin’s biography – “Where There is a Hole, There is a Rat” – as proof of his opportunistic nature. Anutin’s nickname is “Noo”, or rat in Thai.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40019976

Prawit Gets Thumbs Down In Role As Acting PM: Nida Poll

BY LINE : THE NATION

SUN, SEPTEMBER 11, 2022

A Recent Opinion Poll Found That Most Thais Do Not Want Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan To Reshuffle The Cabinet In His Capacity As Acting PM, Adding That They Are Not Happy With His Performance Either.

Prawit took over after the Constitutional Court suspended General Prayut Chan-o-cha from his duties as PM pending a ruling some two weeks ago.

The survey was conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) from September 5 to 7 on 1,312 respondents aged 18 and above.

The respondents came from different parts of the country and covered all education, profession and income levels.

When asked if Prawit in his capacity as acting PM should reshuffle the Cabinet, the response was:

• 46.34%: Totally disagree

• 21.57%: Totally agree

• 16%: Somewhat agree

• 12.58%: Somewhat disagree

• 3.51%: Not interested

Asked if they were happy with Prawit’s performance over the past two weeks, the response was:

• 41.46%: Not at all happy

• 22.87%: Somewhat happy

• 22.26%: Somewhat unhappy

• 8.46%: Very happy

• 4.95%: Not interested

When asked if the acting PM should dissolve the House, the response was:

• 63.80%: Totally agree

• 16.54%: Somewhat agree

• 13.95%: Totally disagree

• 4.80%: Somewhat disagree

• 0.91%: Not interested.