Barkar Nash (Page 957)

Move Forward MPs resolved on Monday the party would not join a coalition government with the Palang Pracharath (PPRP) or United Thai Nation (UTN) parties.

The party announcement after the meeting said that PPRP was led by Gen Prawit Wongsuwon and UTN had Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha as its prime ministerial candidate.

Both were key figures in the coup d’etat on May 22, 2014, and there was a push to prolong their hold on  power.

Voters showed through the May 14 general election that they wanted different people in government and MFP, as the election winner, was determined to form a new government and ensure they did remain in power.

Any attempt to form a government that went against the people’s decision would erode their faith in democracy, the announcement said.

A mosquito eradication campaign has been launched by the Public Health Ministry as the number of people infected with dengue fever nationwide is rising by about 5,000 per week, Disease Control Department director-general Thares Krassanairavirong said on Monday.

The outbreak is mainly in 30 districts of 18 provinces – Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nan, Phayao, Tak, Phetchaburi, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Krabi, Phuket, Songkhla, Satun, Narathiwat and Bangkok.

Since early this year nearly 40,000 cases of dengue fever have been reported, with about 40 deaths. The number is rising by about 5,000 per week, Dr Thares said. This is appoaching the level in 2019, when about 70,000 people caught the disease and 70 died over the 12 months.

On average the number of infections during the past four weeks was higher than the average over the same period for the past five years, Dr Thares said.

At a meeting on July 31 of health officials and representatives of the Provincial Administration Department, officials were assigned to launch a drive to stop the spread of dengue over the four weeks from July 21-Aug 18.

Teams from the Bureau of Epidemiology and the 38 centres for the control of insect-borne diseases have been deployed to areas hit by dengue fever, with an aim to reduce the nuber of cases to below the average of the the past five years, he said.

They are empowered to enter domestic property, temples, schools, hotels and other places to spray substances to kill mosquitoes and their larvae. They also advise residents on preventive measures.

Election victors Move Forward still hope they can renominate party leader Pita Limjaroenrat for prime minister and that senators will give him enough support.

Secretary-general Chaithawat Tulanon said on Monday that the party has petitioned to the ombudsman to ask the Constitutional Court if Mr Pita can be renominated to parliament for the position of prime minister at the head of a coalition government.

He hoped the renomination would be allowed and there would be enough support from the military appointed senators.

Mr Pita was nominated as the sole prime ministerial candidate at the joint sitting of the 500-stong House of Representatives and the 249 current senators on July 13, but he failed to win a majority vote. His eight-party alliance mustered only 324 votes, well short of the needed 375.

The parliament then voted on July 19 to reject his renomination. Opponents argued that a failed motion could not be resubmitted during the same session of parliament, and that this also applied to Mr Pita’s nomination for prime minister.

After the rejection the Move Forward Party (MFP), which won 151 House seats, agreed to allow the Pheu Thai Party, its largest ally with 141 MPs, to take the lead and nominate a candidate for prime minister. This is expected at a joint sitting on Thursday.

MFP secretary-general Chaithawat said on Monday that he now believed about 56 senators were ready to support MFP’s bid to lead the next government.

He acknowledged that several parties outside the eight-member coalition seemed willing to support Pheu Thai if it excludes MFP from the government. However, Mr Chaithawat said, if the eight-parties remain  united there could be a way out.

Leaders of the eight parties were scheduled to meet on Tuesday, he said.

“If Pheu Thai and Move Forward go head and a prime minister is still not elected, society will have many questions for the senators and the other political parties,” Mr Chaithawat said.

He rejected the possibility that parties with only a minority vote in the House could form the next government.

MFP secretary-general Chaithawat Tulanon

Pheu Thai Party told to tread carefully

Academics on Sunday warned the Pheu Thai Party not to create an “inter-bloc” coalition, saying such a move could lead to more polarisation in the country.

Asst Prof Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, director of the Law Center at Thammasat University, said Pheu Thai, which is attempting to form a new government, should put together a coalition that is acceptable to the people otherwise it may face stability problems.

He said the Move Forward Party (MFP) has two options, which are standing firm on its policy to amend the lese majeste law and ending up in the opposition, or focusing on reforming enforcement of the law.

However, if the MFP is forced out of the coalition, the party and Pheu Thai should maintain their cooperation, he said, adding there are attempts to undermine the pro-democracy alliance which Pheu Thai should be aware of and try not to create a rift.

Pichai Ratanatilaka Na Bhuket, a political science lecturer at the National Institute of Development Administration, criticised the Pheu Thai Party for a number of missteps.

“The first thing it should have done is to lobby the senators before approaching parties outside the bloc. And these should not have included the Palang Pracharath Party or United Thai Nation Party (UTN),” he said.

He said Pheu Thai’s move this weekend also created an impression that the party is using other parties to force the MFP out of the coalition.

Mr Pichai also lambasted the 188 MPs who joined the senators in blocking the renomination of MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat in the July 19 meeting.

The academic said a Pheu Thai-led coalition without the MFP could face strong public resistance and intense scrutiny in the House especially if it includes the PPRP.

Meanwhile, political activist Sombat Boonngam-anong, who called a protest at the Asoke intersection against the senators on Sunday, said he hoped Pheu Thai would keep its promise.

“If the party’s decision is against the public commitment it made, it has the political responsibility to bear. In the next election people will be a deciding factor,” he said.

Earlier, another group turned up at the Pheu Thai Party’s headquarters and threw flour at Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew and the PPRP’s Thamanat Prompao as they were about to hold a press conference.

Coalition mulls rejig after knock-backs

The eight-party alliance will meet on Tuesday to conclude whether the Move Forward Party (MFP) will still join them in forming the new government after other parties refused to support the coalition in a prime ministerial vote if MFP stays on.

Over the past couple of days the Pheu Thai Party (PT), which is leading efforts to cobble together a government after MFP failed in its bid to get its own leader elected to the post, has asked parties for their support during the second vote planned for Thursday.

A common response is they could not agree to work with Pheu Thai if MFP, its major coalition partner, stands by its plan to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese majeste law, said Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew.

He was speaking after talks with the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) on Sunday. This stance will be reported back to the alliance before any further decisions are made regarding the composition of the coalition, said Dr Cholnan.

Pheu Thai intends to seek talks with all parties, except the Democrat Party, which appears unready for talks as it still is without a party leader.

“Before Pheu Thai nominates its prime ministerial candidate, the alliance will have to conclude how it can secure at least 375 votes in support of the candidate,” he said.

Pheu Thai has also decided to send former industry minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit to conduct the talks, starting on Monday, with certain senators individually instead of making it a formal meeting with the Senate, he said.

PPRP secretary-general Santi Promphat said the PPRP finds the MFP’s bid to amend the lese majeste law unacceptable and has a firm stance against that.

“The PPRP has also told Pheu Thai so, and that the MFP’s intention to amend the lese majeste law is a key factor which could persuade the PPRP to turn down Pheu Thai’s offer that it join the new coalition,” said Mr Santi.

Meanwhile, Capt Thamanat Prompow, a PPRP MP for Phayao, insisted the PPRP would not nominate Gen Prawit Wongsuwon for a prime ministerial vote because the party missed its target set for the May 14 general election of winning at least 250 House seats.

While waiting for Pheu Thai to form the coalition government, the Senate whip suggested on Sunday that Pheu Thai may consider postponing the next prime ministerial vote to early August if it has yet to muster sufficient support for its candidate and still isn’t ready for the next vote.

First, Pheu Thai will have to clarify which parties will be included in the new coalition it is attempting to form, Senator Somchai Sawangkarn, in his capacity as secretary-general of the Senate whip, said.

Likening the new coalition formation as a wedding, with Pheu Thai as the groom and MFP as the would-be bride, the senator said the groom will have to say clearly who would actually be his bride.

“Make the Senate a scapegoat no more. It’ll be ungentlemanly of you to not break up properly with the would-be bride named Move Forward and try to make the Senate announce the break-up for you,” said Mr Somchai.

“That will be highly inappropriate. If you aren’t ready, don’t tie the knot. You had better get everything ready first to ensure the wedding will run smoothly. Picking a prime minister isn’t like choosing things at a department store,” said the senator.

In another development, Chartthaipattana Party leader Varawut Silpa-archa insisted after a formal meeting with Pheu Thai on Sunday that his party would decide to work with Pheu Thai only when the latter has clearly excluded any parties with an intention to amend or end the lese majeste law.

A group of protesters on Sunday gathered outside Pheu Thai’s head office while the party’s executives were meeting the PPRP. Protesters demanded Dr Cholnan honour the promise he made on behalf of Pheu Thai on the day they and six other parties signed a memorandum of understanding agreeing to work together.

Now Pheu Thai has turned to work with two military parties in disguise, Dr Cholnan must resign, said the protesters.

Some protesters threw flour at Dr Cholnan and Capt Thamanat when they emerged from the meeting. The incident prompted both Pheu Thai and PPRP politicians to flee the scene through a back exit of the building.

One of the protesters was identified as Thanalop “Yok” Phalanchai, a 15-year-old activist released from a juvenile centre in Nakhon Pathom while on a royal defamation charge.

Coalition mulls rejig after knock-backs

The eight-party alliance will meet on Tuesday to conclude whether the Move Forward Party (MFP) will still join them in forming the new government after other parties refused to support the coalition in a prime ministerial vote if MFP stays on.

Over the past couple of days the Pheu Thai Party (PT), which is leading efforts to cobble together a government after MFP failed in its bid to get its own leader elected to the post, has asked parties for their support during the second vote planned for Thursday.

A common response is they could not agree to work with Pheu Thai if MFP, its major coalition partner, stands by its plan to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese majeste law, said Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew.

He was speaking after talks with the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) on Sunday. This stance will be reported back to the alliance before any further decisions are made regarding the composition of the coalition, said Dr Cholnan.

Pheu Thai intends to seek talks with all parties, except the Democrat Party, which appears unready for talks as it still is without a party leader.

“Before Pheu Thai nominates its prime ministerial candidate, the alliance will have to conclude how it can secure at least 375 votes in support of the candidate,” he said.

Pheu Thai has also decided to send former industry minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit to conduct the talks, starting on Monday, with certain senators individually instead of making it a formal meeting with the Senate, he said.

PPRP secretary-general Santi Promphat said the PPRP finds the MFP’s bid to amend the lese majeste law unacceptable and has a firm stance against that.

“The PPRP has also told Pheu Thai so, and that the MFP’s intention to amend the lese majeste law is a key factor which could persuade the PPRP to turn down Pheu Thai’s offer that it join the new coalition,” said Mr Santi.

Meanwhile, Capt Thamanat Prompow, a PPRP MP for Phayao, insisted the PPRP would not nominate Gen Prawit Wongsuwon for a prime ministerial vote because the party missed its target set for the May 14 general election of winning at least 250 House seats.

While waiting for Pheu Thai to form the coalition government, the Senate whip suggested on Sunday that Pheu Thai may consider postponing the next prime ministerial vote to early August if it has yet to muster sufficient support for its candidate and still isn’t ready for the next vote.

First, Pheu Thai will have to clarify which parties will be included in the new coalition it is attempting to form, Senator Somchai Sawangkarn, in his capacity as secretary-general of the Senate whip, said.

Likening the new coalition formation as a wedding, with Pheu Thai as the groom and MFP as the would-be bride, the senator said the groom will have to say clearly who would actually be his bride.

“Make the Senate a scapegoat no more. It’ll be ungentlemanly of you to not break up properly with the would-be bride named Move Forward and try to make the Senate announce the break-up for you,” said Mr Somchai.

“That will be highly inappropriate. If you aren’t ready, don’t tie the knot. You had better get everything ready first to ensure the wedding will run smoothly. Picking a prime minister isn’t like choosing things at a department store,” said the senator.

In another development, Chartthaipattana Party leader Varawut Silpa-archa insisted after a formal meeting with Pheu Thai on Sunday that his party would decide to work with Pheu Thai only when the latter has clearly excluded any parties with an intention to amend or end the lese majeste law.

A group of protesters on Sunday gathered outside Pheu Thai’s head office while the party’s executives were meeting the PPRP. Protesters demanded Dr Cholnan honour the promise he made on behalf of Pheu Thai on the day they and six other parties signed a memorandum of understanding agreeing to work together.

Now Pheu Thai has turned to work with two military parties in disguise, Dr Cholnan must resign, said the protesters.

Some protesters threw flour at Dr Cholnan and Capt Thamanat when they emerged from the meeting. The incident prompted both Pheu Thai and PPRP politicians to flee the scene through a back exit of the building.

The flour was a reference to Capt Thamanat, who spent four years in an Australian prison for heroin trafficking in the 1990s. When the case came to light in Thailand years later, he claimed the substance was flour.

Ruling on the Thamanat case in 2021, the Constitutional Court said that being convicted of a major felony in another country is not a barrier to serving as an MP in Thailand.

One of the protesters was identified as Thanalop “Yok” Phalanchai, a 15-year-old activist released from a juvenile centre in Nakhon Pathom while on a royal defamation charge..

Two celebrities have been summoned for questioning in connection with the Forex-3D Ponzi scheme, according to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).

Pol Maj Gen Woranan Srilam, a senior investigator for financial crimes with the DSI, said the celebrities are among eight people that investigators have determined are connected with the Ponzi scheme.

The first is an actor who is summonsed to meet the DSI on Aug 8 and the other is a celebrity DJ who is expected on Aug 17, he said, adding the DSI may also question them about their relationship with Apiruk Kothi, one of the scheme’s alleged masterminds.

“Investigators will review other evidence, not just financial transactions, to ensure fairness. We’ll determine if the transactions are legal,” he said.

Pol Maj Gen Woranan said those who have been charged with fraud may be investigated for money laundering if they are proved to be involved in illegal asset transfers.

It was reported the two celebrities are actor Ratthaphum “Film” Tokhongsap, who ran for a House seat under the Palang Pracharath Party’s banner, and Wichian “DJ Petjah” Kusolmanomai.

The Forex-3D scheme, which lured thousands to invest in what they believed to be a foreign exchange trading platform with false promises of high returns, was run by Mr Apiruk who was arrested in January 2021.

Political activist and former senator Ruangkrai Leekitwattana on Sunday said he has petitioned the National Anti-Corruption Commission to look into irregularities he found in a list of assets declared by six senators on May 14, 2019.

The senators were among those who voted for Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister in parliament on July 13.

They are Kraisid Tontisirin, Saki Pithukkhumpol, Pol Lt Gen Jitti Rodbangyang, Pisan Manawapat, Wutthiphan Wichairat and Prapasri Suchantabutr, said Mr Ruangkrai.

The irregularities include differences in the sum of declared total income per year and the amount of income declared in a breakdown along with sources, he said.

He said he attached a request for the NACC to examine these irregularities and also find out if the amounts of tax paid by these senators and their spouses were consistent with the amounts declared.