Barkar Nash (Page 1,092)

PPRP likely to join bloc to ensure stability of govt

The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) is likely to join a new coalition led by the Pheu Thai Party, which is seeking to gather the support of at least 300 MPs to ensure a stable new government, according to a Pheu Thai source.

While Pheu Thai can now garner enough support from other parties to form a majority government, it still continues to work on persuading more parties to join to ensure the new government has a combined number of up to 300 MPs.

After the vote for prime minister scheduled for Thursday was delayed, Pheu Thai will now have more time to work on the prospective coalition line-up, the source said.

Currently, parties that have now agreed to join the new coalition include Bhumjaithai, Chartthaipattana, the Democrats, Prachachat and a few micro-parties.

“If the United Thai Nation [UTN] Party and the PPRP are brought into the coalition, the number of MPs will rise to about 300,” the source said.

Of the two parties, the PPRP is more likely to join, with talks between the two ongoing following Gen Prawit Wongsuwon’s re-election as leader hours after stepping down from the position on July 29.

According to observers, if Pheu Thai includes either or both the PPRP and the UTN, it can expect to face heavy criticism for reneging on its word before the May 14 election that it would not work with the so-called “uncle” parties, referring to those linked with military leaders involved in the 2014 coup.

The “uncles” refer to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the former UTN chief adviser and its prime ministerial candidate, and Gen Prawit, the PPRP leader and its prime ministerial candidate.

The source went on to say that Gen Prawit’s re-election as the PPRP leader could be a sign that he might want to establish a minority government with 188 MPs from the parties in the outgoing government and dozens of renegade MPs from rival parties.

“A minority government could be formed if the MFP (Move Forward Party) was disbanded over its policy to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law,” the source said.

Can’t we speak? Move Forward Party MPs react as parliament president Wan Muhamad Noor Matha adjourns Friday’s meeting after lawmakers debated why a motion proposed by MFP MP Rangsiman Rome to reconsider the rejected renomination of party leader Pita Limjaroenrat for PM was turned down. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)

The Constitutional Court already accepted for deliberation a petition filed by lawyer Theerayut Suwankesorn who claimed the MFP’s policy to amend Section 112 breaches Section 49 of the constitution, which prohibits people from using their rights and freedoms to overthrow the constitutional monarchy.

“In this scenario, the 188 MPs would nominate Gen Prawit for a PM vote in parliament with the support from the 250 senators who are close to him and about 30 renegade MPs. Pheu Thai would then be forced into the opposition, along with small parties [while the MFP was disbanded].

“Gen Prawit is still keen to become prime minister. If there is a window of opportunity, he will seize it,” the source said.

Meanwhile, deputy Pheu Thai leader Phumtham Wechayachai said on Friday that parties that would join the Pheu Thai led coalition should support its PM candidate, Srettha Thavisin, in the next prime ministerial vote.

“If they disapprove of the PM candidate of Pheu Thai, it will be difficult for us to work together,” he said.

He also downplayed talk of the allocation of cabinet seats among prospective coalition allies.

“Only after the new prime minister has been elected will the allocation of cabinet seats be discussed … It is still not known how many parties and MPs will make up a new coalition,” Mr Phumtham said.

However, PPRP secretary-general Capt Thamanat Prompow on Friday dismissed a report that he would lead a group of PPRP MPs to vote for Pheu Thai’s PM candidate in a bid to join the Pheu Thai led coalition. He said there had been no approach from Pheu Thai so far.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, accompanied by Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda, visited victims of the firework warehouse explosion in Narathiwat on Friday, reassuring them that financial support is being processed.

Gen Prayut travelled to tambon Muno in Sungai Kolok district to follow up on the rehabilitation process of victims of the fireworks explosion and those whose houses were burned down.

He said that financial aid for the victims was being provided by the government and donations from private parties.

The Office of the Prime Minister is considering if there will be any additional funds to offer.

Gen Prayut also ordered the authorities to resolve the housing issues as quickly as possible so that the victims could return to their normal lives.

During the visit, Gen Prayut expressed his condolences to those who had lost family members and confirmed that the government will provide enough aid for all the victims.

Gen Anupong told the media that land reforms will be imposed in tambon Muno to restructure the overpopulated, inundated community and reconditioning the areas affected by the explosion.

When asked if the budget for survivors of the explosion was adequate, Gen Anupong reassured that the government will seek more funding from various sources to assist the victims.

“It is against the law to provide an amount of money which is beyond the office’s jurisdiction to manage.

The government is trying its best [to compensate the survivors], especially the families of deceased victims,” Gen Anupong said.

He was asked about the prosecution of the firework warehouse owners — who have been hiding in Malaysia — and their alleged connection with politicians. Gen Anupong stated that an investigation is underway, and no one will be exempt from legal proceedings.

The warehouse owners, Sompong Nakul, 42, and his wife, Piyanuch Peungwirawat, were summoned for questioning following the explosion on July 29 in tambon Muno, which killed 12 people, injured 121 and damaged 292 houses.

They have not yet reported to police investigators.

Parliament president Wan Muhamad Noor Matha yesterday adjourned a joint sitting after lawmakers began debating his decision to reject a motion on Pita Limjaroenrat’s failed bid to become prime minister.

The motion had been proposed by a Move Forward Party (MFP) MP to review Mr Pita’s earlier renomination rejection. However, the debate was adjourned after proving inconclusive.

The meeting was originally intended for parliament to vote for a PM to be nominated by Pheu Thai and to consider a draft bill proposed by the MFP seeking to amend Section 272 of the constitution, which gives senators the power to vote with MPs in the selection of the PM.

However, the vote to select a PM was cancelled after the Constitutional Court postponed to Aug 16 its decision on whether to accept for consideration the Ombudsman’s petition for it to rule on the constitutionality of parliament’s rejection of Mr Pita’s renomination. Remaining on the agenda was the MFP’s draft bill seeking to amend Section 272 of the constitution.

The meeting was scheduled to begin at 9.30am. However, it was unable to convene right away as only 239 of the 747 active members of the two Houses had signed in, causing a lack of quorum.

The meeting managed to reach a quorum after an hour of waiting. When the meeting started to convene, Rangsiman Rome, an MFP list-MP, proposed an urgent motion, asking parliament to review its resolution passed on July 19 to reject the renomination of Mr Pita, who had failed to get approval in the first round of voting.

But Mr Wan rejected the motion. He said all those concerned should wait for the Constitutional Court to make its decision on Aug 16. If parliament proceeded with the motion as proposed, it might contravene the Constitutional Court’s power, he said.

His decision drew protests from MPs, including Dr Cholnan Srikaew, the Pheu Thai leader, who rose to speak in support of Mr Rangsiman’s motion.

Prapan Khunmee, a senator, said, however, that the motion proposed by Mr Rangsiman should be rejected.

After about 30 minutes of inconclusive debating, Mr Wan abruptly rose, saying: “As the president of parliament, I hereby order today’s meeting adjourned.”

Two of four Thai workers died in a car accident in Taiwan during their ride to a construction site in the mountainous Fuxing district of Taoyuan city on Thursday.

Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin said yesterday that six migrant workers, including four Thais who were travelling on tourist visas, were on a ride to a construction site in Fuxing district when their vehicle slipped off the cliff due to heavy rain.

Two of the four killed were Thai workers. Prasopchok Sawaengkaew was from Nakhon Ratchasima, and Kittisak Piu-on was from Si Sa Ket.

Mr Suchart said that the families of the deceased will be given financial assistance by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Nakhon Si Thammarat: A boy from an impoverished family in this southern province was able to get a replacement for the dilapidated roof of their house after his petition seeking help from His Majesty the King received a positive reply.

Thirat Thongphet, 9, lives in a village in tambon Khuntalay in Lan Saka district.

In his petition dated April 4, he wrote that the wooden roof had been damaged by termites, and he feared that while he was asleep, it could collapse on him any day.

The boy wrote that his mother died in December 2018, and he now lives with his aunt in the house. They have no money to repair the roof, so he decided to write a petition.

The Office of the Privy Council later forwarded the letter on May 4 to the Nakhon Si Thammarat governor to inform him of the boy’s plight.

On Thursday, Sophon Promkaew, mayor of tambon Khuntalay, visited the boy and inspected the house.

Workers were subsequently called to replace the termite-damaged wooden roof with a stronger metal one.

The replacement roof required a budget of about 60,000 baht and is expected to take about one week to finish installing, Mayor Sophon explained.

Lawmaker defends stateless children

Ang Thong: A Pheu Thai list-MP yesterday called on agencies to protect every child’s right to an education regardless of their legal status after 126 ethnic children in the province were deported to Myanmar.

Khattiya Sawasdipol wrote on Facebook that the actions taken against the children and the director of their school indicate a lack of measures guaranteeing the government’s “education for all” policy.

She said the Interior Ministry, Education Ministry, Social Development and Human Security Ministry, and the Immigration Bureau must work together to map out measures to protect stateless children.

The MP also urged law enforcement agencies to ensure the school director and those involved in bringing the children into the education system receive a fair investigation.

Their repatriation followed a police raid at Pa Mok-based Thairath Wittaya 6 School in June triggered by complaints that a large group of ethnic children had enrolled there.

Truck search nets 52 migrants

Tak: Fifty-two illegal migrants were detained along with a 37-year-old Thai man at a security checkpoint in Mae Sot district late on Thursday night, local authorities said yesterday.

The migrants were found on a vegetable transport truck which was stopped for a search in tambon Mae Pa. During the search, officials heard a cough and found the people hidden under piles of vegetables.

Of the 52 detainees, 32 carried fake border passes, while the 20 others had no documents.

The truck driver, who was only identified as Rin, was arrested for aiding illegal migrants and handed over to Mae Sot police station.

PPRP figure gets lifetime poll ban

courts: The Supreme Court has banned a former Palang Pracharath Party MP for Bangkok, Thanikan Phonphongsaroj, from contesting elections for life for violating the political postholder’s code of ethics.

The ban, announced on Thursday, follows a court ruling on July 20 to sentence her to 1.5 years in prison, suspended for two years, for giving her MP card to a fellow MP to vote on her behalf.

In its latest ruling, the court said the politician was not present at the meeting when her card was used in the voting, and she did not report the irregularity.

Based on the evidence, it was believed she had asked another MP to vote on her behalf, which was a dishonest act and a serious violation of the code of ethics.

According to the research, mutilation occurred in the motel room where the suspect was staying.

SURAT THANI: Following the horrifying discovery of human body parts at a waste on the southern island of Koh Phangan— famous for its Full Moon events— a Hispanic male in police custody has denied any involvement in the removal of his Brazilian friend.

Chilean national Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, 44, vanished, and Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, 29, was taken to the Koh Phangan police station on Friday for inquiring.

On Thursday evening, Mr. Sancho had gone to the Koh Phangan law station to record the disappearance of Mrs. Arrieta. This came after word got out that some figure pieces had been discovered.

Body components, including a sawed-off hip and bowels weighing about five kilograms, were found by garbage collectors on Thursday inside an fertilizer pouch in Moo 4 of Koh Phangan. & nbsp,

On Friday, additional system parts were discovered in a black plastic carrier at the same place. The handbag contained two legs, a dark T-shirt, some clothes, and some dark boxer briefs.

Police, criminal investigators, and health workers from Koh Phangan Hospital arrived at the scene with the suspicion that the Colombian man’s body parts may be his. Finally, under the direction of Pol Lt Col Surapong Thanomjit, commissioner of Provincial Police Region 8, they brought Mr. Sancho in for questioning.

The research revealed that the two men had planned to travel to Koh Phangan and join up there because they were acquainted from previous encounters. From July 31 to August 3, Mr. Arrieta had reserved a hotel room on the island. On July 31, Mr. Sancho checked into the area when he arrived at the hotel and did so prior to Mrs. Arrieta’s arrival.

Mr. Sancho claimed that on Wednesday at around 3 p.m., he went to pick up his companion at a dock on Koh Phangan. They then went to a cafe before going to Rin Beach, which is close to the hotel where they were staying. Mr. Arrieta vanished after nightfall on Wednesday, according to Mr Sancho, who reported it to the police. He claimed he was unaware of the Brazilian man’s whereabouts.

Primary research revealed that Mr. Sancho was residing in the hotel room Arrieta had reserved. According to Pol Lt Col Surapong, he had even reserved a room for Tuesday and Wednesday at another hotel close to Salad Beach.

The Brazilian man was taken by him to a restaurant close to his other resort reservation. Nothing saw Mr. Arrieta after Wednesday evening.

The research revealed that on Tuesday night, the Hispanic man had purchased a knife, rubber gloves, kitchen sponge, cleaning pad, bottle of cleaning product, and garbage bags from sanitizing supplies.

When the police searched his place, they discovered that the sinks to the kitchen, bathroom, and kitchen had all been washed. In the house’s drain, there were bloodstains, muscle, fat, and hair. According to Pol Lt Gen Surapong, samples were taken for criminal tests.

In relation to the demise of his companion, Daniel Sancho, 29, of Spain, is being questioned. ( Wassayos Ngamkham provided the photo )

The body pieces found on Koh Phangan are thought to belong to Chilean national Edwin Arrieta. ( Wassayos Ngamkham provided the photo )

The colorful journalist admits to having heart cancer but adds that he still has more stories to tell.

Chuvit Kamolvisit, a political campaigner, has confirmed that he has phase 3 liver cancer and has vowed to spend the rest of his life educating community about issues that others are reluctant to discuss or bring to light.

The original massage parlor king revealed this just before a media conference on Thursday about Sansiri’s management under the former chief executive of the Pheu Thai Party, Srettha Thavisin, who is currently running for prime minister.

On a program hosted by renowned newsreader Sorrayuth Suthassanachinda on his YouTube and Facebook channels, Mr. Chuvit revealed his health problem.

I have phase 3 kidney cancer that has almost progressed to phase 4, which is the final stage, so I definitely don’t have much time to live, he said.

He added that he is receiving treatment and that this indicates the cancer is spreading to other tissues or body parts.

Mr. Chuvit claimed that many people had questioned whether it would be better for him to take a break and concentrate on his wellbeing. He did, nevertheless, claim to be content with what he is doing.

He said,” I enjoy what I’m doing.” ” I do it with a lot of love.” I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned with others and revealing the truth— the truth that some people are afraid to state. the reality that people are unaware of. I let go of my anxiety when I speak. I feel liberated.

” That is how the cycle of existence works. We get bored and pass away after we are born. I want to keep everything on before my time is up.

The former legislator gained notoriety last November when he provided proof against dubious Chinese companies, including a fugitive gang connected to Chaiyanat” Tuhao” Kornchayanant, bars run by Chinese groups that were selling drugs to Chinese citizens, and online gambling sites and gaming dens in the nation’s capital.

His most recent effort focuses on Mr. Srettha’s qualifications. According to Chuvit, he assisted 12 landowners in avoiding taxes totaling 521 million baht when Sansiri bought a prime 400-square-wah story on Sarasin Road in Bangkok( a square woo equals 4 square meters ).

Sansiri has refuted the charge. The company stated in a statement that the sellers were in charge of handling the taxes and rights transfer fees for the property sales, while the company was simply required to make payments at the agreed-upon prices and transfer ownership of the property.

Because of” unjust” voting laws, some party rebels want the Election Commission to halt the meeting.

According to party spokesman Ramet Rattanachaweng, the Democrat Party’s leadership contest will go on as planned despite some users petitioning the Election Commission ( EC) to postpone the election on Sunday.

A July 9 party resolution was revoked by about 100 Democrats on Thursday, and the unique assembly to choose a new leader and senior board was postponed until the controversial party regulations were updated.

The 70: 30 balanced voting law used in the selection method, according to the team led by Chaiwat Traiyasunant, does not follow democratic principles.

According to the rule, current MPs make up 70 % of the total, with the remaining 30 % being made up of other members. Critics argue that this law needs to be changed or the new round of election may encounter issues.

However, Mr. Ramet stated that the Democrats will put the group’s ideals back of their own interests even though it is only natural for there to be competitors.

Additionally, he insisted that party rules and associated laws be followed when holding the meeting on July 9.

Members’ rights were never violated, he claimed, by the group’s decision to forego the customary procedure of determining the recognition of each nominated candidate.

Political observers view the Democratic leadership race as a gauge of the party’s political leanings and whether it will join the Pheu Thai Party & nbsp coalition or remain in the opposition camp.

Due to a lack of consensus at the meeting on July 9, no new president was chosen to achieve Jurin Laksanawisit. It was said that there was turmoil at the meeting between two camps competing for party authority.

Abhisit Vejjajiva, a previous party leader, is reportedly on one side, and younger people are wanted to take over the group, according to the other. If Mr. Abhisit takes the head, it is anticipated that the party will remain in the opposition; however, if a rival gains power, Pheu Thai may join forces with it.

After the May 14 election, in which the nation’s oldest party won just 25 House seats — roughly half the number it won in the 2019 polls— Mr. Jurin announced he was resigning.