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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012501

Amnesty International warned of a clampdown on civil society and said it would continue to uphold human rights in Thailand, despite a 1.2-million signature petition calling for its expulsion from the country.

The petition was handed in at the Interior Ministry on Thursday by ultra-royalists led by Anon Saennan, former leader of Red-Shirt Villages of Thailand.

“The targeting of Amnesty is taking place against a backdrop of a growing intolerance for human rights discourse among Thai authorities,” Kyle Ward, Amnesty International’s deputy secretary general said on February 16. The anti-Amnesty campaign came at a time when Thai authorities were trying to pass a controversial law regulating non-profit organisations, he added, referring to the NGO draft bill being considered by Parliament.

The petition called on the ministry not to renew Amnesty International (AI)’s licence to operate in Thailand, accusing AI of interfering in Thailand’s affairs and indoctrinating people and especially children.

AI Thailand also acted to protect pro-democracy protesters who had violated the law and attacked the monarchy and government, the group said in a statement.

It added that AI Thailand’s latest international campaign asking foreigners to write letters to stop Thai government agencies taking legal action against Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul over national security and lèse-majesté charges had “dismayed all Thais”.

The group added that AI Thailand did not respect the Thai judicial process and encouraged people to defame the monarchy.

“If the ministry renews the operating licence for Amnesty International Thailand, the group will oppose the move until the end,” the statement added.

Published : February 18, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012458

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday rebutted the allegations of corruption and incompetence made by the opposition leader against him and his government during a House of Representatives general debate on Thursday.

He dismissed claims by Pheu Thai Party leader Chonlanan Srikaew, who doubles as the opposition leader, that the government was corrupt, undemocratic and incompetent in dealing with Covid-19, as well as other problems stemming from the global pandemic.

“I am definitely not involved with irregularities, both in terms of government policy and my own intention,” the PM told the House session.

The general debate is being held on Thursday and Friday, in line with Article 152 of the Constitution, which allows MPs to make inquiries and recommendations to the government, without any voting.

Addressing the allegation that his government had come to power undemocratically, Prayut said: “This administration is not the one from 2014 [formed after the military coup]. Everyone here went through the election held under the 2017 Constitution.”

He also noted that only the prime minister and three other Cabinet members were in the post-coup junta while 32 others are newcomers.

“Certainly, the policies will be different” from the previous administration, he added.

The prime minister maintained that his government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak was satisfactory and acceptable globally. He admitted that vaccine acquisitions might have been slow in the beginning but the country’s vaccine supply is now sufficient — with more than 100 million doses rolled out last year.

Regarding the big hike in pork prices following reports of a swine flu outbreak, the prime minister dismissed the opposition leader’s claim that the government had covered it up. He pointed out that large amounts of frozen pork were found to have been stored illegally, which could explain the increasing prices.

The PM said that the government’s remedy measures for business operators affected by Covid-19 had helped Thailand’s economy to grow 1.3 per cent during the first nine months of 2021. “That was beyond the expectation of many people,” he added.

He also said that there was an increase in employment and a decline in joblessness last year. Among the new graduates in 2020 and 2021, 66.7 per cent were hired in the private sector, 20 per cent in the public sector, and the remainder became self-employed or run their own business.

Last year, new business registrations exceeded business closures by four times, which pointed to increased confidence in the Thai economy, Prayut said. He pointed out that investor applications for government incentives amounted to more than Bt600 billion in total investments last year.

“That is better than the number before Covid, which indicates that Thailand’s situation is not that bad,” the PM said.

The country’s exports in 2021 totalled Bt8.5 trillion, and its financial rating set by three leading ratings institutions has remained unchanged at BBB+, he noted.

Published : February 17, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012450

The leader of the Opposition on Thursday demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, and dissolution of the House after blaming his government for the country’s economic woes and Covid-19 crisis, as a parliamentary debate got underway on Thursday.

The general debate, held under Section 152 of the Constitution, started at 9.50am. House Speaker Chuan Leekpai reminded whips of both sides to keep the slots for both sides. He said the opposition is allotted 22 hours for the debate while the government will get eight hours to respond.

The Section allows a debate on national issues for MPs to suggest solutions but no voting will be held after a debate, unlike a no-confidence debate when a censure voting is held.

Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew took the floor at 9:58 am and launched a broadside against the prime minister. He said the mismanagement by the Prayut government had worsened the economic crisis, leading to rising cost of living throughout the country.

Cholnan said the Prayut government had failed to tackle the pandemic among humans and disease in farm animals, referring to the African Swine Fever (ASF).

The opposition leader pointed out that the government had failed to effect political reforms as promised and it had no efficiency in administering the country, worsening several issues that included drug trafficking, corruption, and PM2.5 air pollution as well as environmental issues regarding a gold mining concession.

He said all the problems stemmed from the writing of the current charter that allowed the coup architects to retain power by forming a coalition government that lacked stability.

He said that after the opposition held a censure debate on September 4 2020, the government has never been able to rally enough MPs to make a quorum of 238 MPs during House meetings.

Cholnan alleged that the management mishaps had caused Thailand to lose opportunities in international trade.

“Thais in the entire country are suffering from rising cost of living while their wages are very low,” Cholnan said.

“Why did the government cover up the spread of ASF and why didn’t it announce its existence earlier? The government also mishandled the Covid-19 situation and prolonged it. Fortunately, Omicron came in to save the government.”

Cholnan said when Pheu Thai MP Sutin Klungsaeng makes the closing arguments of the debate, the government would definitely be in a bad shape. He said if the government failed to solve the problems, which were highlighted during the debate, by May, the opposition would definitely hold a no-confidence debate against the administration.

Published : February 17, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012361

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has used the threat of dissolution of the House of Representatives in a warning to coalition partner Bhumjaithai Party to toe the line, sources from the coalition said.

Political observers expect the threat would prompt the Bhumjaithai to change its stand on opposing the 30-year extension of the Green Line railway concession.

According to the sources, Prayut made the House dissolution threat during an informal meeting between him and leaders of coalition partners following the meeting of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.

The informal meeting of coalition leaders was also attended by Bhumjaithai leader and Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob.

During the meeting, Prayut complained that he was running out of options and he might have to dissolve the House.

A source said Anutin was apparently startled by Prayut’s mention of House dissolution and promptly responded: “Prime minister, you have just one choice. That is, you must stay to complete the tenure.”

The current House of Representatives will complete its four-year term in March next year.

The informal meeting was held after seven Bhumjaithai ministers, including Anutin and Saksayam, boycotted the weekly Cabinet meeting last Tuesday.

The boycott was aimed at conveying the party’s stand against the extension of concession of the Green Line project, which forced Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda to withdraw the matter from the Cabinet’s agenda.

Sources said Anutin even showed a list of 260 MPs that support the coalition. He pointed out to Prayut that the 260 MPs excluded a group of 21 MPs led by former Palang Pracharath Party secretary-general Thamanat Prompow expelled from the party. They later joined the Thai Economy Party, which plans to change its name to Ruam Jai Thai Chana.

During the informal meeting, Prayut also complained that if more Palang Pracharath MPs cause trouble, they should join Bhumjaithai.

Political observers believe Anutin is worried about contesting a snap election because his party is not ready yet. Observers think his strategy is to complete the term in government, and increase the chances of winning a sizeable number of MPs in the next election so that Bhumjaithai could be a coalition partner again.

The party is seen as being afraid to contest the next election so soon because the poll will use a new electoral method – two ballots for constituency and party-list candidates.

If Bhumjaithai has to contest an election soon and if it fails to win enough House seats, it could be left on the opposition benches. Bhumjaithai’s options have become limited as former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the de facto leader of the Pheu Thai Party, has vowed not to associate with that party for having betrayed him by joining the Palang Pracharath coalition.

Because of its fear of House dissolution, political observers expect to see Bhumjaithai tone down its stand against the extension of the Green Line concession in a way that it would not lose face.

The Green Line concession is expected to be a hot issue that the opposition would cite to hold a censure debate against the government.

If Bhumjaithai MPs abstain or vote against the interior minister because of the Green Line project, the coalition unity could be affected so the party is expected to change its stand soon, the political observers explained.

On Tuesday, Palang Pracharath leader and Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan tacitly confirmed that Prayut is now in control but the political situation may change according to current factors.

Prawit told reporters at a press conference that the coalition has no rifts.

“I have said from the beginning that there is nothing [about coalition rifts],” Prawit replied when asked if the coalition is embroiled in rifts.

Asked whether the coalition will stay to complete its term, Prawit replied: “Until it falls,” but he did not elaborate. Asked again whether the coalition will remain until the tenure is completed, he replied cryptically, “It would depend on the situation”.

Published : February 15, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012289

The public is split over which side to blame for the repeated collapse of Parliament meetings due to lack of a quorum, according to the latest National Institute of Development Administration (Nida Poll) survey on Sunday.

Meanwhile 30 per cent of respondents said MPs who missed meetings without good reason should be penalised with a pay cut.

This month alone has seen three House meetings collapse – on February 2, 4, and 10 – after failing to achieve a quorum as MPs stayed away.

The survey was conducted from February 8-10 on 1,310 people aged 18 and over, with various levels of education and occupations throughout Thailand.

The results were as follows:

Asked who was to blame for the repeated collapse of House meetings:

– 43.44 per cent said government coalition MPs

– 42.37 per cent said the government

– 37.94 per cent said opposition MPs

– 32.60 per cent said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha

– 14.66 per cent said Parliament President Chuan Leekpai

– 12.60 per cent said government coalition chief Niroth Soonthornleka

– 11.83 per cent said opposition chief Suthin Khlangsaeng

– 2.29 per cent said no one was responsible

– 7.10 per cent did not answer

Asked what caused the problem:

– 49.85 per cent said it was a political game to overthrow the government

– 31.98 per cent said some MPs were neglecting their duties in Parliament

– 16.03 per cent said the government coalition whip was ineffective

– 11.91 per cent said some MPs are lazy

– 8.17 per cent said the government wants to delay the consideration of the laws

– 4.89 per cent said the meeting is not attractive

– 4.35 per cent said the opposition whip is ineffective

– 2.82 per cent said the Parliament meeting collapse is just an accident

– 2.29 per cent said some MPs have other important duties to do

Asked for ways to solve this problem:

– 30.15 per cent said a salary cut for MPs absent without good reasons

– 22.82 per cent said the absent MPs should have political rights reduced

– 22.29 per cent said they should be fired

– 17.71 per cent said they should be fined

– 16.03 per cent said they should be named publicly

– 14.20 per cent said political parties of absent MPs should be dissolved

– 12.60 per cent said there was no way to solve this issue

– 2.98 per cent did not answer

Published : February 13, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012230

Democrat Party’s Bangkok governor hopeful Suchatvee Suwansawat has asked the anti-graft agency to examine assets belonging to him and his wife in a bid to clear allegations of malfeasance and unusual wealth.

He submitted his request to the National Anti‑Corruption Commission (NACC) on Friday.

“I have volunteered to work for the people, and I do not shy away from scrutiny,” he said. “I am confident that the NACC will ensure justice for me.”

Suchatvee’s move came after an investigation by the House committee on corruption, misconduct prevention and suppression into a complaint accusing him of irregularities while serving as president of King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL).

After more than six years in the university’s top job, the 49-year-old engineering professor stepped down in early December to contest the next Bangkok gubernatorial election as a Democrat candidate.

Suchatvee said on Friday that he had served with honesty as the KMITL president, without amassing unusual wealth.

“I feel that I am being treated unfairly and persecuted politically. My credibility and political goodwill are being undermined,” he added.

The House committee received a complaint from an anonymous party last month about Suchatvee’s alleged wrongdoing, according to the panel’s spokesman, MP Thiratchai Phantumas, whose Move Forward Party is also in the gubernatorial race.

After resigning as KMITL president, Suchatvee declared personal assets of Bt141.7 million, up from Bt44 million in his previous declaration in 2016. According to the latest declaration, he and his wife have combined assets of Bt342.1 million and total debts of Bt35.2 million.

Meanwhile, the latest opinion survey of Bangkok voters showed Suchatvee closing the gap on frontrunner Chadchart Sittipunt.

Of the 1,035 people surveyed, 33.81 per cent said they would vote for Chadchart, 28.29 per cent for Suchatvee, and 8.57 per cent for Move Forward candidate Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, according to the results released on Friday.

As many as 20.29 per cent of the respondents said they were undecided.

The survey was conducted by Thammasat University’s Research and Consultancy Institute from February 3-7.

Published : February 11, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012226

The fragile Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP)-led coalition was shamefaced again on Thursday when opposition leader Pheu Thai Party tested its strength by demanding to check the House quorum.

The coalition’s failure to make quorum resulted in the House being adjourned for the 17th time, which prompted the new Kla Party to demand that MPs be punished for skipping meetings without a good reason.

Once lawmakers finished deliberating on motions submitted by the opposition, Parliament President Chuan Leekpai announced that the House would discuss the State Audit Office’s policy for the 2023 fiscal year.

It was at this point that Pheu Thai MPs asked for the quorum to be checked, and when the quorum was not met, Chuan had no choice but to adjourn the meeting.

The meeting was shelved before the House could deliberate on 17 reports from its panels, including one on the erosion of Thailand’s coasts and another on the amendment of the municipal election law.

Deliberation on another nine urgent motions is also pending, including a motion calling for the setting up of a special panel to study the construction of a tunnel in Nakhon Phanom.

In addition to these, there is a backlog of 19 motions left from last year to consider.

Political observers say the opposition is using quorum checking as a tool to step up pressure on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to dissolve the House.

The PPRP-led coalition already had a slim majority, which became even slimmer when it expelled 21 rebel MPs led by former PPRP secretary-general Thamanat Phrompow.

However, Prayut and his deputy Prawit Wongsuwan, who is also PPRP leader, insist the coalition will survive games inside the Parliament.

Observers, however, have also pointed out that the House adjournment over attendance numbers has cost the state 71 million baht. They pointed out that the state shells out 3.82 million baht per day to pay 473 MPs 8,085 baht each based on their monthly salary of 242,560 baht.

In addition to the amount paid to MPs, the state must also shoulder a daily bill of 360,000 baht for using Parliament facilities. So, when a meeting is adjourned halfway, 4.18 million baht is wasted every time.

This wastage has prompted Kla Party to submit a letter to Chuan demanding that House meeting regulations be amended to punish MPs who are absent.

The letter, handed in by Kla Party members Pongpol Yodmuangcharoen and Saenyakorn Singweetham, was signed by 8,000 members of the public.

The letter said the money wasted from lack of quorum comes from the taxpayers’ pockets, so the amount should be docked from MPs’ salaries every time they are absent.

The letter also said that if an MP is absent for up to 25 per cent of House meetings in the current tenure, they should be stripped of their right to vote and debate in two meetings.

Those who are absent up to 50 per cent of the time should be disqualified from standing in the next general election, the letter said.

Pongpol added that the proposed penalties were based on the punishment imposed on MPs who fail to vote. They are usually disqualified from contesting elections or becoming political officers for two years.

Pongpol said both the coalition and opposition should be held responsible for the failure to achieve quorum, adding that all MPs should be present to vote.

Saenyakorn also pointed out that the House committee on ethics, which is chaired by Chuan, should act against absent MPs. He also called on Chuan to check if the MPs who skipped the House meeting used their right to fly to Bangkok for free. If they have, then they should be investigated for corruption, he said.

Published : February 11, 2022

By : THE NATION

While the Bhumjaithai Party claims it is protecting public interest by strongly opposing the extension of the Green Line railway concession, a source from the Interior Ministry alleges that the party is guided by ulterior motives.

Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda had to withdraw the matter from consideration by the Cabinet during its weekly meeting on Tuesday because all seven Bhumjaithai ministers, including party leader Anutin Charnvirakul and Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob, boycotted the meeting.

While some sources said the Interior Ministry had tabled and withdrawn the matter from Cabinet meetings seven times, some said the withdrawal had happened just twice.

On Wednesday, Saksayam did not shy away from confirming that the seven Bhumjaithai ministers had boycotted the Cabinet meeting.

“The seven Bhumjaithai ministers clearly expressed their stand by not attending the Cabinet meeting. We disagree with the Interior Ministry’s proposal on extension of the Green Line railway concession when all proceedings have not been done legally yet,” Saksayam said.

“Our absence from the meeting clearly showed that we’re opposed to it. We didn’t want to attend the meeting to squabble and make news since we disagree with it anyway.”

The Green Line railway is owned by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) with the operator Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC) being its concessionaire. The Interior Ministry supervises the BMA.

Saksayam insisted that the Transport Ministry is against the concession extension because the BMA has failed to complete several issues in line with legal principles and good governance.

But a source from the Interior Ministry insinuated that the Transport Ministry has other reasons for opposing the extension. The source alleged that the Transport Ministry is using the matter to pressure the BTSC to abandon its legal fight against the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) and to make it withdraw from bidding for the Orange Line railway project. The Transport Ministry supervises the MRTA.

The BTSC has sued the MRTA in the Central Administrative Court for compensation after an MRTA bidder selection committee changed the terms of reference (ToR) for bidding for the Orange Line project.

The BTSC also sued the MRTA for cancelling the first bidding of the Orange Line and filed a malfeasance lawsuit against the MRTA with the Criminal Court’s Corruption and Malfeasance Division.

On Wednesday, the Central Administrative Court ruled that the manner in which the ToR was changed was unlawful, but rejected the BTSC’s plea for compensation, saying it had not provided any evidence of incurring additional expenditure because of the change. The verdict, however, will justify the malfeasance lawsuit of the BTSC against the MRTA in the Criminal Court.

The Interior Ministry source backed his criticism of Bhumjaithai’s stance by pointing out that Saksayam was initially not opposed to the extension of the Green Line concession.

“When he took office in August 2019, he never expressed opposition to the amendment of the concession contract,” the source said.

“Moreover, he had replied to the Cabinet Secretariat three times that he agreed with the amendment of the contract between the BMA and the BTSC before the meeting of economic ministers on November 11, 2019.

The source said that after the MRTA held bidding for the Bt1.427-billion Orange Line railway project, the BTSC filed lawsuits against the MRTA governor and its committee that picks the bid winner.

“So, we believe that the transport minister came out to oppose the concession extension because he hopes that the prime minister would step in to negotiate with the BTSC to withdraw from bidding for the Orange Line project and withdraw all related lawsuits,” the source added.

The Interior Ministry had sought Cabinet approval for extension of the Green Line concession for 30 years, from 2029 to 2059, in exchange for the BTSC’s agreement to absorb some Bt100 billion debt that the BMA owes the concessionaire. The debt includes some Bt37 billion that the BMA owes after it hired the BTSC to operate three extended sections of the Green Line, plus accrued interest.

In exchange for the extension, the Interior Ministry noted, the BTSC has promised not to raise the maximum fare beyond Bt65 although it is allowed by the original contract to raise the maximum fare to Bt158 in due time.

The source added that if the Transport Ministry thought the Bt65 maximum fare was too high, it could have asked the BMA to conduct further negotiations by reducing the ratio of returns from the concessionaire in exchange for a lower fare.

A representative of the Transport Ministry, Pichet Kunathamrak, deputy director-general of the Rail Transport Department, argues that the extension of the Green Line concession will not give the highest benefits to the government and the people.

He argues that if the government takes over and runs the Green Line on its own for 30 years, it would receive revenue of Bt1,577 billion. After deducting projected expenditure of Bt1,109 billion, the government would net a profit of Bt467 billion. In comparison, if the concession were to be extended for 30 years, the government would earn only Bt32.69 billion, he said.

The Transport Ministry is backed in the dispute by the Thailand Consumer Council.

The council issued a statement that it is opposed to the maximum fare of Bt65. It called on the government to fix the maximum fare at Bt44 until the concession expires, and the government should then take over the railway operation and set the maximum fare at Bt25.

Published : February 10, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012156

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved the Move Forward Party’s same-sex marriage act draft, with 219 voting for it, but decided that it must go before the Cabinet for a 60-day study.

Of the total 350 votes, 219 were in agreement while 118 members voted against it, with 12 choosing to abstain and one member not voting.

The Move Forward Party was however not satisfied with the decision giving the Cabinet 60 days to study the proposal, while netizens also voiced dissatisfaction, leading to the trending hashtag #สมรสเท่าเทียม (same-sex marriage).

“We must accept the truth,” Move Forward Party MP Benja Saengchan said. “[At present], love, marriage, couple life and right-to-family life limit a couple to being male and female.”

Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat said the law would be a starting point of equality and the new norm of Thai society.

“We are trying to tell them that this society accepts diversity and our youth are not abnormal,” he emphasised.

Related News

Chiles congress recognizes same-sex marriage, joining regional shift toward gay rights

Subtle meanings behind Thai Constitutional Court’s ruling against same-sex marriage

Court: Allowing only heterosexual couples to marry is not unconstitutional

The party’s same-sex marriage act is an edited draft of the Civil and Commercial Code presented in 2020. It has the same objective as the same-sex marriage draft campaign by citizens via the website https://www.support1448.org/. The campaign has garnered more than 290,000 signatures.

The objective is to change Section 1448 of the Civil and Commercial Code and the following sections. Campaigners want to change the definition of marriage that can take place only between a “man and woman” to “two persons” so that everyone has equal rights

Published : February 10, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012122

The dispute over extension of concession for the railway Green Line stems from the city administration’s failure to honour its debt of Bt37 billion owed to the current concessionaire, according to sources in the know.

Disagreements over proposals by the Interior Ministry prompted seven ministers of ruling coalition-partner Bhumjaithai Party to boycott the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Their strong reaction is seen as a key factor in forcing the Interior Ministry to withdraw the concession extension proposal from the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

A source from the Cabinet, who is familiar with the issue, said Tuesday was not the first time the Interior Ministry had to withdraw the matter from a Cabinet meeting. It had tabled and then withdrawn the matter from the Cabinet’s consideration six times in the past due to disputes over the concession extension and the maximum fare of Bt65.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) owns the project and it gave the concession to the Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC). The BMA is under the supervision of the Interior Ministry.

According to sources, the BMA had asked the Interior Ministry to request Cabinet approval for a 30-year extension, from 2029 to 2059, to adjust against its debt of Bt37 billion. Apart from seeking the extension, the BTSC also wants to raise its maximum fare to Bt65 to be able to shoulder the debt for the BMA.

Initially the BMA owed Bt32 billion to the BTSC for operation and maintenance costs after it hired the BTSC to operate the extended route from Poo Chao Saming Prai to Samut Prakan Housing Estate stations on December 6, 2018. Subsequently it extended the routes from Morchit station to Lat Phrao station on August 9, 2019 and from Lat Phrao station to Kukot station on December 16, 2020.

The debt comprises Bt12 billion for operation and maintenance costs and Bt20 billion for electrical and mechanical installation costs, including the signal system and electric trains. The debt rose to Bt37 billion because of accrued interest.

In August last year, the BTSC took the matter to the Central Administrative Court, asking the court to force the BMA to repay the debt. The court is yet to issue a ruling, allowing the BMA more time to prepare evidence to defend itself.

BMA Governor Asawin Kwanmuang said the extension of the concession was not the only choice before the city administration. He said the BMA had requested a national budget of Bt30 billion twice earlier for paying the debt but its request was not approved.

The BMA had also proposed that the Green Line and all the debt be transferred to the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) to manage but this idea also was rejected.

The debt disputes between the BMA and BTSC prompted the National Council for Peace and Order, which came to power after the 2014 coup, to issue an order on April 11, 2019 to set up a committee to negotiate with the concessionaire. The committee decided to extend the concession for BTS by 30 years.

However Bhumjaithai, which is in charge of the Transport Ministry, opposes that proposal.

Bhumjaithai has raised questions on whether the extension would violate the principle of the Act on joint venture between the state and private firms of BE 2562 (2019).

Bhumjaithai also disagreed with the maximum fare rate of Bt65, saying it would not be affordable to low-income commuters.

The party has also demanded clarifications on how the state would stand to gain the most from the extension.

The party also noted that the BMA is still under investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission for hiring the BTSC to operate the extended routes without calling for bids. It said the investigation should be completed first.

The long-delayed decision on the matter prompted the BTSC to issue a video clip and post messages on terminals on its Skytrain, reminding the BMA to honour its debt.

BTSC chairman and CEO Khiri Kanchanapas said in the clip that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had promised after a Cabinet meeting on April 7 last year that his government would find a solution to the outstanding debt as soon as possible but nothing had happened so far.

Khi noted in the clip that there was only one step left, which was to put the matter to the Cabinet for consideration.

He urged the public to understand the burden the BTSC has to shoulder.

The BTSC also posted messages on its Skytrain terminals that the BMA had yet to honour its debt of Bt37 billion and the messages urged the prime minister to take action soon.

Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Prayut insisted that the extension of the Green Line railway must be finalised at the next Cabinet meeting.

Published : February 09, 2022

By : THE NATION