Newly appointed Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Chaiwut Thanakmanusorn said on Friday that he will continue with his predecessor’s policies.
He added that he will continue the focus on websites defaming the monarchy and will also work in ensuring efficiency in the workflow and will also review laws that are not strong enough to nip problems at the bud, such as fake accounts.
As for his predecessor’s decision to block the porn website Pornhub.com, he said he will study the pros and cons, and if there are more pros then the website will continue being blocked.
Chaiwut has been appointed to replace Buddhipongse Punnakanta, who lost his Cabinet seat when he was given a seven-year jail term for his role in the People’s Democratic Reform Committee-led protests. The months-long protests ousted the Yingluck Shinawatra government and culminated in the May 2014 coup.
Pro-democracy protesters will rally at Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok this evening (Wednesday), the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration group said on its Facebook page.
The group said three speakers – Pasarawalee “Mind” Thanakitwibulpol, Benja Apan and Attapon “Kru Yai” Buapat – will address the rally. The speakers are among 13 protesters charged with lese majeste for participating in an October 26, 2020 demonstration in front of the German Embassy calling on its government to investigate HM the King’s actions in Germany.
Separately, Deputy Metropolitan Police chief Piya Tawichai said police will be stationed near BTS Skytrain stations to maintain peace and order “in line with international practice”.
“We would like to emphasise that holding a demonstration in Bangkok is considered a violation of the emergency decree and communicable diseases act,” Piya said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Metropolitan Police chief Jirasan Kaewsaengake said police would not close roads at the rally site.
“However, we would like to ask motorists to avoid using routes near the protest,” Jirasan said.
PoliticsMar 24. 2021from left – Kanokwan Vilawan, Trinuch Thienthong, and Kalaya Sophonpanich.
By The Nation
Trinuch Thienthong, who was named by the government gazette as the new minister of Education, is the first woman to head the ministry. With two current deputy ministers in the House – Kalaya Sophonpanich and Kanokwan Vilawan – the government has written a new page in history, as three women now hold highest control of the ministry.
Trinuch was born on September 12, 1972. She received a Master’s degree in Economics from Western Illinois University in 1996-1997. Before that, in 1995, she received a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the US university. She graduated from Assumption University in 1992.
The new minister worked as credit director at Bangkok Bank from 1999 to 2001 and was assistant general manager of SPT Civil Group in 1998 and 1999.
Trinuch has also been a deputy spokeswoman at the Culture Ministry, adviser to then deputy minister of Education Sirikorn Maneerin, adviser to Agriculture and Cooperatives ex-minister Chucheep Hansawat, adviser to former Social Development and Human Security minister Sora-at Klinpratoom, treasurer to the Executive Committee of National Units at the Asian-Pacific Postal Union, assistant secretary of the Tourism Commission, spokeswoman for the Tourism Commission, and adviser to then Labour and Social Welfare deputy minister Ladawan Wongsriwong.
Trinuch, who has been a member of the House of Representatives, Sa Kaeo province, for five terms, is the country’s 55th minister of Education.
Pro-democracy protesters and police clashed at Sanam Luang on Saturday night, leaving 32 people injured.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Erawan Emergency Medical Service Centre said on Sunday that 12 police and 20 people were injured. Eleven were sent to Central Hospital, seven people — 2 officers and 5 people — to Vajira Hospital, Siriraj Hospital (2), Police Hospital (11 –10 police and one person), and Lerdsin Hospital (1).
Redem, or Restart Democracy group, gathered on Saturday at 6pm at Sanam Luang to urge the authorities to release leaders of the Ratsadon protest group who had been arrested earlier and charged with sedition, illegal gathering, and lese majeste.
Restart Democracy (Redem) group on Saturday held a rally at Sanam Luang to urge the authorities to release leaders of the Ratsadon protest group who had been arrested earlier and charged with sedition and illegal gathering, among others. pic.twitter.com/7tn9dUWV9d— TheNationThailand (@nationnews) March 20, 2021
The timeline of events on Saturday:
6.45pm: Some protesters reportedly try to pull down the top container of the wall erected by police in front of the King’s Palace, while police order them to stop the protests immediately. They are warned that high-pressure water spray cars were ready to deal with violation of law or acts that destroyed state property.
7pm: The assembly haul the bottom container out. Police then spray water at the protesters until they retreat. The demonstrators then try to dismantle the additional containers, while the police warn them and spray water, but the protesters are unfazed.
7.35pm: Crowd control officers come out from behind the containers and take control of the situation, seizing the area and arresting some of the protesters.
7.48pm: A small grenade is thrown at the police.
7.50pm: Most of the protesters leave Sanam Luang.
7.53pm: Crowd control staff expand the barrier to fix the force around Sanam Luang, ordering all unrelated parties to leave the area, blocking entry to the assembly area in Sanam Luang.
9pm: At the Khok Wua intersection, a fire is lit to burn the plant pots on the outbound side of Rajdamnoen Road. There are also occasional firecracker sounds. As police officers guard the middle of Rajdamnoen Road and continue to restore the area, rubber bullets and tear gas are fired. At least five protesters are arrested and interrogated.
Three expected new ministers in a Cabinet reshuffle went to the Secretariat Cabinet Office on Wednesday afternoon to sign up and take photographs before Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha submits the list to His Majesty the King for approval.
The three are Democrat Party Surat Thani MP Sinit Lertkrai and Sa Kaeo MP Trinuch Thienthong and party-list MP Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn from the Palang Pracharath Party.
Sinit is expected to become deputy commerce minister, replacing Weerasak Wangsupakitkosol, who will take the deputy transport minister’s post. Chaiwut and Trinuch are expected to become Digital Economy and Society minister and Education minister, respectively.
Deputy Prime Minister and Palang Pracharath Party leader Prawit Wongsuwan, who is said to have good ties with the Thienthong family, reportedly submitted Trinuch’s name as a ministerial candidate. The decision was reportedly not linked to Prayut or his wife, both of whom “don’t share a close relationship” with the family.
The Charter amendment bill did not pass a parliamentary vote during the third reading.
The extraordinary parliamentary vote on Wednesday, which came after a final reading of the draft to amend the Constitution, saw 208 members voting for the amendment, four voting against, 94 abstaining and 136 choosing not to cast their votes.
The passing requirement was 369 votes, or half of the total votes in Parliament. The third reading of the draft was therefore rejected.
Of the 208 votes of approval, 206 came from members of the House of Representatives and two from senators. All four votes against the amendment came from senators.
Of the 94 who abstained, 10 are members of the House of Representatives and 84 are senators. Nine members of the House and 127 senators did not cast their votes.
Of the 250 senators, only two voted for the charter amendment – Naowarat Phongphaiboon and Phisal Manawaphat.
Opposition Move Forward MPs interrupted Wednesday’s session of Parliament by holding up photos of pro-democracy activists to protest their imprisonment.
The move came a day after the court denied bail for eight protest leaders charged with lese majeste over their participation in rallies calling for monarchy reform last year. The court cited the risk of protest leaders repeating their alleged crimes if they were released.
The eight denied bail were Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, Panupong “Mike” Jadnok, Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul, Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpattararaksa, Patiwat Saraiyaem, Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, Chaiamorn Kaewwiboonpan and Piyarat Chongthep. Parit began a hunger strike at Bangkok Remand Prison on Wednesday to protest what he said was unjust imprisonment.
Move Forward MPs were in Parliament for the third and final reading of the draft Constitution amendment bill. The final vote on the bill is due tomorrow.
Pro-democracy protesters camped at Bangkok’s Rama V Road near Government House on Sunday to reiterate their demands for the release of detained protesters, amendment of the Constitution and scrapping of the lese majeste law.
The demonstration against the government is expected to be held at 5pm.
Earlier, traffic on Phitsanulok Road was reopened post-midnight on Sunday after police removed containers and barbed wires.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has apologised to the press for spraying them with alcohol sanitiser at his weekly briefing on Tuesday.
Apparently irritated by questions about the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle, Prayut three day agos walked out from behind the lectern and marched along the row of reporters spraying them with disinfectant before exiting the room.
“I am sorry. I had no intention to harm you, just kidding with the press, as always,” the PM said on Friday.
“I will not spray you again in the future,” he added.
Pro-democracy protesters held a mock funeral for Thai justice on Tuesday, a day after public prosecutors filed lawsuits against 18 members of the student-led Ratsadon movement.
The Criminal Court on Monday also jailed three of the protesters – Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul, 22, Panupong “Mike Rayong” Jadnok, 24, and Jatupat “Pai Daodin” Boonpattararaksa, 29 – after denying their bail applications.
In response, black-clad protesters from the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration group gathered outside the Criminal Court, where they laid a wreath and tied ribbons and messages to the fence.
Meanwhile, protesters led by the Nonthaburi New Generation Network held a similar demonstration outside the Bangkok Remand Prison, where the accused are being held.
The 18 protesters have been charged with sedition over their participation in September 19-20 rallies at Bangkok’s Thammasat University and Sanam Luang.
Panusaya, 22, Panupong, 24, and Jatupat, 29, also face charges of lese majeste, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Their trials have been set for March 15, according to their lawyer.
from left – Kanokwan Vilawan, Trinuch Thienthong, and Kalaya Sophonpanich.
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