Prayut stays to his guns after suspension
Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has insisted he will carry on working as defence minister despite expanding calls for him to step down through the role.
According to a source at the Defence Ministry, Style Prayut did not arrive for work at the particular ministry on Thurs. The source said this individual remotely chaired a meeting of the Defence Authorities via video teleconference in what is seen as a bid to ease the growing pressure on him in order to also step straight down as defence minister.
The meeting was attended by the ministry’s permanent secretary, the chief of the armed forces, the army navy and atmosphere force commanders, and also senior military officers.
Talking after the meeting, Defence Ministry spokesman Gen Kongcheep Tantrawanich said: “Gen Prayut told attendees not to worry about him and that he will continue working [as defence minister]. ”
“Gen Prayut may or may not turn up for am employed at the ministry. It depends on the work, ” Gen Kongcheep said.
A team of Style Prayut’s aides said he will go to the ministry when there are important engagements while this individual prefers to indication documents at home.
Army main Gen Narongphan Jitkaewthae has thrown his support be- hind Gen Prayut following the Constitutional Court’s choice to suspend him. He said Gen Prayut deserves praise for his conformity with the court’s order.
“He should be praised to get following the democratic procedure and the rule of law… When the judicial branch tells the executive branch what should be done, the professional branch shows its willingness to comply, ” Gen Narongphan said. “He should get admiration for being a gentleman and a part model. ”
On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court decided to suspend Style Prayut as best minister until the courtroom hands down its judgment on his term limit.
The suspension order implemented the court’s unanimous decision to accept the particular opposition’s petition wondering it to rule on Gen Prayut’s eight-year tenure. The petition, signed by 171 MPs from the opposition wing, was submitted to the court on Monday.
The courtroom has given Style Prayut 15 days to respond to his suspension. His suspension is expected to last around a month while the court considers its final verdict.
According to Section 158 of the metabolic rate, the maximum term of a prime minister is usually eight years and the opposition believes Style Prayut’s term has come to an end because he has served since premier since Aug 2014.
Political activist Jatuporn Prompan said a rally will be held on Sunday to pressure Gen Prayut to step down as defence minister.
“Gen Prayut should create a sacrifice by resigning as defence minister otherwise a politics crisis will take place, ” said Mister Jatuporn.
He further stated that despite Gen Prayut’s suspension, people are nevertheless unhappy that Mouthpiece Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon serves as acting prime minister.
“People still worry about him [Gen Prawit] operating the country. Calls for the House of Representatives to become dissolved are increasing, ” Mr Jatuporn said.
“Therefore, the move will be held on Aug 28 because planned because the state’s problems have not been fixed yet and the ones in power nevertheless cling on to power. Nothing has changed. We are going to push for change and the pressure can continue, ” he said.
Nititorn Lamlua, an additional protest leader, terminated talk about a rift between the three “Por” generals — Style Prayut, Gen Prawit and Interior Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) Anupong Paojinda.
Mr Nititorn said he thought the bond involving the trio remains indestructible and they remain firmly in control of the government.
“I think the trio will not betray each other. In the event of any impasse, Gen Prawit is likely to do something particularly; dissolve the House. If the Home is dissolved, the government will remain in a caretaker role for about twelve months, though political uncertainty will follow, ” Mr Nititorn said.
Deputy authorities spokeswoman Tipanan Sirichana on Thursday insisted that Gen Prayut has only been suspended, not dismissed from office, by the court.
“Gen Prayut continues to be prime minister and has been suspended till the court delivers the ruling [on his tenure limit].
“To ensure continuity in the government’s administration, Gen Prawit has taken more than as acting excellent minister. This is not in regards to a move to cling onto power as suggested by the opposition, ” Ms Tipanan mentioned, adding that Style Prayut’s suspension has no impact on the working of the country.
Business commanders have said these people expect that Gen Prayut’s suspension may have little impact on the government’s administration as well as ongoing efforts to spur the country’s fragile economy.