#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019299

The majority of Constitutional Court judges on Wednesday voted to accept an opposition petition for deliberation on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s tenure and suspended him from duty until a ruling is made.

The judges voted 5:4 to accept the petition, which was forwarded to the court by the Secretariat of the House of Representatives.

Opposition MPs invoked Section 82 to sign their names sponsoring the petition, asking the court whether Prayut’s tenure should be deemed expired in accordance with provisions of the Constitution that limited the tenure of a prime minister to eight years. They insist his tenure ended on Tuesday, August 23, 2022.

The petition also asked the court to suspend Prayut from duty until a ruling is made.

The current nine Constitutional Court judges are court president Worawit Kangsasitiam, Dr Jiraniti Hawanon, Udom Sitthiwirattham, Wiroon Saengthian, Banjongsak Wongprat, Thaweekiart Minakasit, Nakarin Mektrairat, Panya Udchachon, and Noppadon Theppithak.

Earlier, the Pheu Thai Party said Prayut was now facing “the political trap of the charter that he designed to block the Pheu Thai from winning executive power”.

On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said that even if Prayut was suspended as the prime minister, he could still continue working as the defence minister.

Wissanu had said Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan would be caretaker prime minister in case Prayut was suspended from duty.

Published : August 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019297

Opposition Pheu Thai and Move Forward lawmakers attended Parliament on Wednesday wearing black to protest against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha who, they believe, should have stepped down on completing eight years in office.

Prayut became prime minister eight years ago on August 24.

Most Pheu Thai MPs from across the country dressed in black, such as Ubon Ratchathani MP Chuvit Pitakpornpunlup, Lamphun MP Sanguan Pongmanee and Lopburi MP Ubonsak Bualuang-ngam.

Meanwhile, Move Forward MPs who dressed in Black included party-list MP Suthep Ou-oun, Trat MP Sakdinai Numnoo and Phitsanulok MP Padipat Santipada.

Critics are demanding that Prayut, who doubles as defence minister, step down before Wednesday when they say his eight-year term as stipulated by the Constitution expires.

Opposition MPs have submitted a petition for the Constitutional Court to rule on when Prayut’s eight-year tenure expires.

Pheu Thai and Move Forward MPs said they had dressed in black because they believe that Prayut is a barbarian prime minister whose eight-year tenure has expired.

Article 158 of the Constitution states that: “The prime minister shall not hold office for more than eight years in total, whether or not consecutively.”

However, there is a dispute over the date from which Prayut’s tenure should be counted.

The opposition insists Prayut’s term started when he first assumed premiership on August 24, 2014, after ousting Yingluck Shinawatra’s elected government in a military putsch led by him in May.

Others say his tenure began when the current Constitution was enforced on April 6, 2017, while a third group claims Prayut’s premiership actually began on June 9, 2019, when he was sworn in as prime minister after the general election.

Published : August 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019296

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was suspended from duty by the Constitutional Court after the court on Wednesday accepted a petition on his eight-year tenure for judicial review and a ruling.

Published : August 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019294

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha stayed home to chair a meeting via video conference to avoid protesters amid intense suspense about whether the Constitutional Court would accept a petition on his tenure.

Prayut did not turn up at Government House in the morning as usual as several groups of protesters rallied nearby to demand that he step down on grounds that he had reached his eight-year premiership limit.

He chaired a video conference of the national committee on the country’s industrial competitiveness at 9.30am.

A source said the committee meeting was normally held with physical attendance at Government House, but Wednesday’s meeting was held via video conference.

Prayut meanwhile assigned Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai to represent him as chairman of an event to hand out Prime Minister Awards for National Start-ups 2022 and for Innovation for Crisis at the Santi Maitree Building at 1.30pm.

The court is expected to decide on Wednesday whether to accept the opposition petition for a review.

In case the court accepts the petition, it is expected to spend a few days to decide whether Prayut must be temporarily suspended from duty pending a ruling.

Published : August 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019287

The Constitutional Court can rule on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s tenure under two scenarios.

Critics have demanded that Prayut, who doubles as defence minister, step down before August 24, the day they insist his eight-year term as stipulated in the Constitution expires.

The opposition filed a petition with the court on Monday, asking for a ruling on Prayut’s tenure.

The court is scheduled to hold its weekly meeting on Wednesday, but it is not known if the judges will take up the petition for consideration on the same day.

Article 158 paragraph 4 of the Constitution states: “The prime minister shall not hold office for more than eight years in total, whether or not consecutively.”

Here are the two scenarios:

Scenario one: Prayut became prime minister on August 27, 2014, under Interim Constitution BE 2557 (2014).

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said this scenario is in line with the petition from opposition MPs and lecturers from 15 universities.

“Under this scenario, Prayut can remain in office only until August 24, 2022,” he said.

Scenario two: Prayut became prime minister on June 9, 2019, under current Constitution BE 2560 (2017).

Lt-General Nanthadet Meksawad, former head of the National Security Centre’s Special Operations Centre, argued that Prayut was appointed as prime minister only on June 9, 2019, after the general election on March 24, 2019.

Article 158 paragraph 1 of the Constitution says: “The King appoints the prime minister and not more than 35 ministers to form the Cabinet, which is responsible for state affairs.”

“Hence, Prayut has served only around three years of his eight-year term,” Nanthadet argued.

Published : August 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019265

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the reshuffle of key senior Interior Ministry posts, including the post of Provincial Administration Department chief ahead of the next election.

The government spokesmen team announced that the Cabinet had approved the reshuffle as proposed by Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda.

It would be the last reshuffle of senior Interior Ministry officials approved by the Cabinet of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, as his government would complete its four-year term in March and a general election would be held afterwards.

The reshuffle was approved amid disputes on whether Tuesday should be Prayut’s last day in office. His opponents have asked the Constitutional Court to rule on whether he has reached the eight-year limit set by the charter for holding the PM’s post on Tuesday.

The reshuffle would take effect on October 1. Key transfers include:

– Saraburi Governor Manrat Ratanasukhon will become the new director-general of the Provincial Administration Department.

– Ansit Samphantharat will be transferred from the post of deputy permanent secretary to the post of director-general of the Community Development Department.

– Chayawut Chanthorn, a deputy permanent secretary at the Interior Ministry, will become director-general of the Department of Land.

– Pongrat Piromrat, Ubon Ratchathani governor, will become director-general of the Public Works and Town & Country Planning Department.

– Kachorn Srichawanothai, Samut Songkhram governor, will become director-general of the Local Administration Department.

Political observers say these key Interior Ministry posts are crucial in playing a role to help the government gain an upper hand in the election.

Published : August 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019262

The Foreign Ministry on Tuesday informed the Cabinet about its bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), deputy government spokeswoman Trisulee Trisaranakul said.

The ministry reported to the Cabinet its quest for a seat on the HRC for the 2025-2027 tenure.

Election for new HRC members will be held at the UN headquarters in New York City in October 2024.

Trisulee said the Cabinet also acknowledged a draft declaration of the Thai ambassador to the UN that would be announced during the 77th UN assembly in September about the intention to bid for the HRC seat.

Thailand last held an HRC seat from 2010 to 2013. The Kingdom contested for another term for the 2015-2017 tenure but failed to get elected.

The Foreign Ministry informed the Cabinet that the contest for the HRC membership would affirm Thailand’s determination to protect human rights.

After Thailand held the membership the last time, the country has progressed a lot in its role in international human rights. For example, the country has ratified core human rights treaties and has pushed for enactment of laws in the country to be in line with its human rights commitment. Thailand declared human rights a national agenda for 2018 and 2019, the spokeswoman said.

She said Thailand had also become an example of countries that had been successful in protecting health and social rights of vulnerable groups during the Covid pandemic.

If Thailand is elected as an HRC member, it will show that the Kingdom enjoys the trust of the international community regarding human rights.

If elected, it would be a crucial time for Thailand to play a role on the world stage during a time of international crises, the spokeswoman said.

Published : August 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019255

The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) on Tuesday warned protesters rallying to demand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s resignation that they could face jail terms of up to two years and fines of 40,000 baht.

Deputy Metropolitan Police chief Jirasan Kaewsaengaek said rallies must obey disease controls as per the Public Assembly Act.

He said protesters on Tuesday planned to gather at the Russian Embassy, Government House, Parliament, City Hall, Democracy Monument, Office of the Attorney-General, Bangkok Remand Prison, and the Supreme Court. They are demanding that PM Prayut step down, citing the eight-year term limit for a PM stipulated in the Constitution.

On Wednesday, protesters plan to gather at Government House, City Hall, and Democracy Monument. Extra police have been deployed to rally sites.

Jirasan said he expected protesters at Democracy Monument to stay overnight.

He said Samranrat police station will monitor the Democracy Monument rally for Covid risks, adding that use of audio amplifiers after midnight is illegal.

Police would also consider using rubber bullets and water cannon to control protests if necessary, he said. Police would also arrest protest leaders who incite violence or who have arrest warrants against their names.

He said protesters at Lan Khon Mueang Town Square outside the old City Hall must gain official permission to stay overnight despite having already informed district officials of their plans to rally there from Sunday to Wednesday.

Published : August 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019252

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha left Government House after chairing a weekly Cabinet meeting and cancelled a meeting with an envoy apparently to avoid confrontation with protesters outside.

Prayut declined to speak to reporters while leaving.

He was scheduled to meet the Vatican’s ambassador to Thailand, Archbishop Paul Tschang In-Nam, at 3pm. The archbishop was to make a courtesy call to say goodbye after completing his tenure as Vatican ambassador.

The government spokespersons’ team informed reporters that the meeting between Prayut and the Vatican envoy was cancelled.

A small group of protesters started rallying at the Chamai Maruchet Bridge near Government House in the morning to demand that Prayut step down. The group and larger groups of protesters were expected to rally in front of Government House at 5pm.

Police told reporters to leave Government House by 3pm as larger groups of protesters were expected to surround the seat of the government in the evening.

The protesters claimed Prayut has reached the eight-year limit of his tenure.

Published : August 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/politics/40019250

Groups of protesters rallied in front of Government House and Parliament on Tuesday morning to demand that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha step down.

The groups said Prayut has been holding the post of prime minister for eight years, causing economic woes and high cost of living while workers are having to live with a low wage.

The Labour Network for People’s Rights demonstrated at the Chamai Maruchet Bridge and their leaders said Prayut must resign immediately.

They said the country’s economy had become sluggish and workers were in despair as their wage was not keeping pace with the rising cost of living while the unemployment rate had increased.

“It’s time to say goodbye to this unlawful prime minister,” a protest leader said on a megaphone.

The protesters held banners that said “Prayut’s time has run out”, and “Let it be finished at eight years, Prayut get out”.

The group also demanded a daily minimum wage of 425 baht for unskilled workers nationwide, and called on the government to reduce oil prices and control the prices of consumer goods.

Crowd-control police put up metal barriers to prevent protesters from advancing towards the Government House compound. Police also put up containers on one side of the Government House and erected a barbed wire fence on the container. Traffic on Phitsanulok Road in front of Government House was closed.

Meanwhile, the Network of Ramkhamhaeng Students for Democracy, the South Move-On and a group of Ramkhamhaeng University student activists rallied in front of Parliament.

They called on Prayut to resign by Wednesday, saying he had reached the constitutional limit of eight years for holding the post of prime minister.

Pressure has been mounting on Prayut to step down by Wednesday. His opponents believe that Tuesday should be his last day in office. They noted that the current charter allows a person to hold the post of prime minister no longer than eight years and they said Prayut had become the prime minster of an interim government on August 24, 2014 following the coup in May that year.

A larger group of protesters have been holding countdown rallies in front of City Hall since Sunday to demand that Prayut leave office. The opposition has also called on the Constitutional Court to rule on whether Prayut has reached the eight-year limit stipulated by the charter. The court is scheduled to hold a meeting on Wednesday.

Published : August 23, 2022

By : THE NATION