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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018612

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Sunday begged Lop Buri voters for their support, as he launched his bid to become Thailand’s next prime minister.

Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin, who doubles as deputy prime minister, was speaking at a party rally to announce its Lopburi MP candidates in Khok Samrong district.

About 5,000 locals attended the rally, which was also joined by Bhumjaithai secretary-general and Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob.

Anuthin introduced the party’s four candidates as Mallikar Jiraphanwanit (Constituency 2), Narin Klungpha (Constituency 3), Kiart Luangkhachornwit (Constituency 4) and Prathuan Sutthi-amnuaydej (Constituency 1). Prathuan and Kiart are incumbent Bhumjaithai MPs for Lopburi.

Bhumjaithai announced in April it would nominate Anutin as its PM candidate for the next election, which must be called by March next year.

Anutin said on Sunday that if voters elected enough Bhumjaithai candidates, he would be willing to run the country as prime minister.

He added the party was seeking to double the number of ministries it controls after the next election.

“Bhumjaithai has three ministries in this current administration. We want six ministries in the next election. Give us lots of votes. Don’t worry about handing us this burden. If I have to become the prime minister, so be it,” Anutin said.

He also highlighted the party’s success in implementing its campaign promises, including decriminalisation of cannabis and raising the allowance for public health volunteers from 1,000 to 1,500 baht.

Anutin said that if Bhumjaithai is elected to government again, it would push for a three-year debt moratorium to help poor households recover from the Covid-19 crisis.

It would also seek funding of 300-500 million baht for each province to develop tourism. The development funds would generate about 5 trillion baht for the country’s economy, he added.

“Politically, we always keep our word. We’ll find a way to implement our promised policies,” Anutin told the rally.

Apart from the decriminalisation of marijuana, the Bhumjaithai-controlled Health Ministry has made it easier for people to switch public hospitals and brought in free kidney dialysis and free cancer treatment.

Anutin said his party had also eased access to student loans and pushed for construction of a bridge linking the mainland to the tourist island of Koh Lanta.

“Our party will not create conflicts but will aim at forging unity among the people,” he added.

Published : August 07, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018610

The daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Sunday that if her Pheu Thai Party wins power, it would conquer the country’s economic problems in six months.

Paetongtarn, head of the Pheu Thai Family project, was speaking to residents in Chiang Rai during campaigning in the northern province.

“If voters place their trust Pheu Thai, we will work proactively during the first six months to solve the economic woes, social issues, and bureaucratic red tape, and give people access to funds,” she said.

Paetongtarn was visiting Chiang Rai with her brother, Panthongtae, and senior Pheu Thai officials including party leader Cholnan Srikaew, his adviser Phumtham Wechayachai, and Pheu Thai Family project director Nattawut Saikua.

Paetongtarn told crowds that her father and aunt, former prime minister Yingluck, asked her to convey their greetings to Chiang Rai residents.

“I’ve just returned from visiting them. They were happy to hear I would be travelling to Chiang Rai,” she said.

She also blamed the current government for economic difficulties being suffered by people in the northern province.

“Please be more patient. Right now, you are suffering but your lives will definitely improve if Pheu Thai gets the opportunity to take care of the people again,” Paetongtarn said.

She quoted her father as saying that if he returned to Thailand he would want all sides to cooperate instead of prolonging their conflicts at a time when people were stuck in economic hardship.

Paetongtarn said Pheu Thai was ready to contest a general election whatever changes are made to election rules.

Government parties are seeking to change the calculation method for party-list seats at the election, which must be called by March next year.

She promised that if Pheu Thai leads the next government, it would dispatch its ministers to work with provincial governors on solving problems around the country.

“If the people entrust Pheu Thai to govern the country, all major problems will be solved within a year,” she declared.

Pheu Thai is promoting Paetongtarn as its prime minister candidate for the next election.

“I’ll be back to brainstorm with you on how to tackle woes in Chiang Rai and make it a great province to live in again,” she added.

Published : August 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018592

A recent survey shows that most people expect Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to step down on August 24 – the date he will be completing eight years in office.

The survey, conducted on August 2 to 4 by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida), covered 1,312 respondents aged 18 and above from different backgrounds nationwide.

The three key questions and responses were:

Prayut’s term as prime minister

• 64.25% – Prayut should step down on August 24 when he completes eight years in office

• 32.93% – Wait for the Constitutional Court’s ruling

• 2.82% – don’t care.

The role the “3Ps” – Prayut, Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan and Interior Minister Anupong “Pok” Paochinda – will play in setting up a new government

• 55.18% – No role for the 3Ps.

• 27.36% – A greater role for Prawit

• 24.77% – A greater role for Prayut

• 19.44% – A greater role for Anupong

• 5.18% – Don’t care

Who among the 3Ps will be suitable for setting up a new government

• 80.03% – None

• 14.25% – Prayut

• 7.39% – Prawit

• 7.16% – Anupong

• 1.45% – Don’t care

Published : August 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018552

The opposition will seek a Constitutional Court ruling around the middle of this month on whether Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha can legally remain in office after August 24.

Cholnan Srikaew, the Pheu Thai Party leader who heads the opposition, said on Friday that opposition parties have agreed to take their case to the court about a week before PM Prayut reaches eight years in office.

“It will be August 16 or 17, which we see as the best time to submit our petition. If it’s later than that, the country will be damaged,” Cholnan said.

He said the opposition parties had resolved earlier to seek the ruling but were waiting until “the most appropriate time” to submit their petition.

Opposition politicians are calling on Gen Prayut to step down by August 24, as the Constitution sets an eight-year time limit for his tenure.

Article 158 of the Constitution, in force since April 2017, states: “The prime minister shall not hold office for more than eight years in total, whether or not consecutively.”

Previous Thai charters carried no limit for the PM’s term in office.

However, lawmakers and legal experts disagree on the start date of Prayut’s tenure.

Some say it should be when Gen Prayut first assumed the premiership on August 24, 2014 – following the military coup he led in May that year.

Others say his tenure began when the current charter came into force on April 6, 2017. A third group views that it should be counted from when Prayut assumed the premiership on June 9, 2019, following the general election in March that year.

Published : August 05, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018506

Thammasat University students council announced a protest on August 10 after an order to prevent rallies that could spread Covid-19 was enforced from Monday.

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On Tuesday, the Criminal Court sentenced pro-democracy activists Worawan “Pa Pao” Sae-aung and six other defendants to a year in jail with three-year parole, 20,000 baht fine, and 24 hours of community service.

The defendants were sued for holding the protest on August 11, 2021, that could spread Covid-19.

Despite the order, the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration announced on Facebook on Wednesday that it will hold a protest on August 10 on Naga Terrace (Lan Phaya Nak) in Thammasat University.

The Facebook post said that the protest is to return Thammasat [University] to citizens and democracy to society.

Published : August 04, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018474

The Royal Thai Police on Wednesday threatened to crack down on “unlawful” and Covid-prone rally sites in accordance with the emergency situation.

Royal Thai Police deputy spokesman Pol Colonel Kritsana Patanacharoen said police would enforce the order issued by the security emergency situation centre to prevent rallies that could spread Covid-19.

The centre issued the latest order on Monday, asking the Royal Thai Police in its capacity as the security emergency operation centre to stop rallies or any activity that would spread the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The order assigned the police commissioner-general to be in charge of the security operations.

The spokesman said commissioner-general Pol General Suwat Jangyodsuk had subsequently sent a circular to all police stations to enforce the law regarding public rallies.

Kritsana quoted the order as stating that lawful demonstrations must be approved by the respective provincial governors or Bangkok governor and there must be measures to protect participants from catching the corona virus.

Kritsana said Suwat’s order told all police stations to apply the public demonstration act as appropriate to their situation prevent any demonstration that would spread Covid-19.

In the capital, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has allowed demonstrators to rally in seven areas. The areas of the city decreed as protest grounds are: Lan Khon Muang in Phra Nakhon district; Bangkok Youth Centre in Din Daeng; the area under the Ratchavipha Bridge in Chatuchak; the parking lot at Phra Khanong district office; the 72nd Anniversary Stadium in Min Buri district; the Chalermphrakiat sports centre in Thung Khru; and Monton Pirom Park in Taling Chan district.

Kritsana said those convicted of holding unlawful rallies in violation of the emergency decree would be subject to a maximum jail term of two years and/or a maximum fine of 40,000 baht.

Published : August 03, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018425

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) chief on Tuesday asked a House panel vetting the draft budget bill to approve the RTAF’s request for 7.4 billion baht to purchase two F-35A stealth fighter jets.

Air Force Commander-in-Chief Napadej Dhupatemiya was appearing before the budget subcommittee considering procurement projects, after it chopped the jets from the 2023 budget bill last week.

Yutthapong Charassathian, deputy chairman of the panel, complained the air force had not said whether the US Congress has given a green light for Lockheed Martin to sell the stealth fighters to Thailand. The panel also decided the project was not urgent and the money should be used to alleviate people’s economic hardship instead, he added.

On Tuesday, Napadej argued that the RTAF needed the budget allocation first in order to begin formal negotiations with the US government.

The RTAF chief said the purchase would be made as an FMS (foreign military sale), which would be a government-to-government deal that would be transparent without any kickbacks.

“To put it simply, we cannot walk in with empty hands to buy the fighter jets,” Napadej said.

He argued that purchasing the two advanced fighter jets would benefit the nation by boosting security as well as knowledge and technology transfer for RTAF personnel.

Armaments for the two fighter jets would not need to be purchased, he added, as they could use existing air force weapons and would be compatible with weapons purchased in the future.

Napadej said F-16 jets previously purchased by the RTAF have been in service for nearly 40 years. If the purchase of the two F-35As is approved, they would also be used for 35 to 40 years, he added.

Published : August 02, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018357

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha gave the worst answers among ministers targeted in the latest censure debate, according to an opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida).

The nationwide poll surveyed 1,312 adults of various levels of education and income on July 25-26, following the no-confidence debate on July 19-23.

It found that more than two-thirds (69.28 per cent) did not follow the censure debate at all.

Of the 403 respondents who monitored the debate, 42.43 per cent said the opposition’s information was “very clear”, 34.25 per cent said it was “fairly clear”, 15.63 per cent said “fairly unclear” and 7.69 per cent “not clear at all”.

Asked if each of the 11 censure targets responded clearly to the questions raised by the opposition, the respondents answered as follows:

– PM and Defence Minister Prayut: 75.68 per cent said unclear, 21.34 per cent said “clear” and 2.98 per cent said they didn’t watch him answer

– Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan: 75.44 per cent not clear, 15.63 per cent clear, 8.93 per cent didn’t watch

– Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul: 57.07 per cent not clear, 25.56 per cent clear, 17.37 per cent didn’t watch

– Deputy PM and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit: 52.36 per cent not clear, 17.62 per cent clear, 30.02 per cent didn’t watch

– Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob: 47.64 per cent not clear, 14.39 per cent clear, 37.97 per cent didn’t watch

– Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda: 45.16 per cent not clear, 17.37 per cent clear, 37.47 per cent didn’t watch

– Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn: 44.91 per cent not clear, 14.15 per cent clear, 40.94 per cent didn’t watch

– Finance Deputy Minister Santi Promphat: 44.91 per cent not clear, 13.40 per cent clear, 41.69 per cent didn’t watch

– Social Development and Human Security Minister Juti Krairiksh: 44.42 per cent not clear, 14.89 per cent clear, 40.69 per cent didn’t watch

– Interior Deputy Minister Nipon Bunyamanee: 42.93 per cent not clear, 12.41 per cent clear, 44.66 per cent didn’t watch

– Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin: 42.43 per cent not clear, 16.13 per cent clear, 41.44 per cent didn’t watch.

Published : July 31, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018315

The Auditor General’s Office has launched an investigation into a Defence Ministry project to buy luxury Mercedes-Benz sedans as “command vehicles” for its generals.

The probe came after the project was grilled by the House committee tasked with scrutinising the Budget Bill for the fiscal year 2023.

A team from the Auditor General’s Office has been dispatched to examine the purchase plan in detail on matters such as the purpose of the vehicles, their intended missions, and the number of cars to be purchased, an informed source said on Friday.

Earlier media reports said that the Defence Ministry requested a budget of over 100 million baht to buy 30 Mercedes-Benz S500 and S400 sedans. Retail prices for the luxury models range from 7 million to 8 million baht per vehicle.

However, a ministry source said the number of cars was “fewer than 30”. The sedans were intended for missions that require vehicles with high performance, such as transporting VIPs and issuing commands in real time, according to the source.

The House committee scrutinising the Budget Bill has shelved the budget request pending further explanation from the Defence Ministry.

Former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, who is vice chairman of the panel, said the armed forces have yet to answer his two “simple questions” regarding the requested budget for luxury cars for their generals.

Somchai wants to know how many generals the armed forces have and also how many “command vehicles” have been bought over the past decade and at what cost.

Published : July 29, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018277

A campaign by a group of political activists to wear black on Thursday, His Majesty the King’s birthday, led to a controversy and triggered a trend on social media.

Small groups of black-clad demonstrators gathered at certain locations in Bangkok and Chiang Mai on Thursday. Supporters of the campaign appeared to be more active online, posting messages mainly on Twitter.

The messages contain the hashtag #28กคแต่งดําทั้งแผ่นดิน, which means “wearing black throughout the land on July 28”. It was among the top hashtags trending in Thailand, with over 200,000 tweets.

In Bangkok, protesters in black gathered at the Victory Monument and South Bangkok Criminal Court to protest what they described as injustice against defendants being detained for lese majeste.

At Chiang Mai University, a small group of black-clad students held a gathering they said was meant to mourn the deaths of Covid-19 victims in Thailand.

Police approached the demonstrators to confiscate their banners, which was opposed by the students. Police agreed not to seize the banners on the condition that they were not displayed outside the university’s compound.

On Tuesday, National Police chief Pol General Suwat Jangyodsuk instructed police officers across the country to keep an eye on activities to be held on Thursday in which participants wear black.

Political activist Nuttaa Mahattana on Thursday described as “fake news” a media report that police would arrest anyone who wear black on the day.

“It depends on your taste whenever you want to wear black. But I wonder why fake news was released that police would arrest anyone who wears black. Many people believed that,” Nuttaa wrote in her tweet.

Meanwhile, MC Julajerm Yukol, a royalist who is a part of the Royal Family, said that the campaign to wear black on the King’s birthday was like “stomping on the hearts of Thais throughout the Kingdom”.

He wrote in his Facebook post on Wednesday that if they really wanted to mourn the deaths of Covid victims, the campaigners could do so on any day, before or after July 28.

Published : July 28, 2022