Previous agriculture minister disputes that he was meddling during a recent flood assessment visit.
PUBLISHED: 10 Sep 2024 at 20: 41
Thamanat Prompow, the original agriculture minister, is suing three public characters for defamation because they allege he interfered with his successor’s work.
In addition to slander claims against Jade Donavanik, a past Bangkok MP and host of a social media program, and Thai Pakdee Party leader Warong Dechgitvigrom, Thanadon Suwannarit has been appointed as his attorney.
On Tuesday, Mr. Thanadon complained to the Bangkok Nang Loeng authorities.
The three have previously claimed in the media that Thamanat was acting poorly by interfering with Narumon Pinyosinwat’s work during this week’s storm inspections of Chai Nat and Ayutthaya, according to the attorney.
Thamanat was depicted conference with officials who gave a lecture on the water situation. At the conference, Thamanat was seated in the middle, flanked by Ms Narumon and the two crops assistant officials, Itthi Sirilathayakorn and Akara Prompow, Thamanat’s nephew.
The three people suggested that despite Ms Narumon replacing him, Thamanat appeared to be leading the ministry’s operations. According to them, this amounts to disturbance in the executive branch, which may offend Part 185 of the law.
According to Mr. Thanadon, the allegation had led people to believe that Thamanat lacks sufficient legal knowledge. The attorney argued that any comments made about a person must be taken as long as they are creative.
But, he said this condemnation of Thamanat was, in consequence, defamatory.
He claimed that Thamanat was completely to accompany Ms. Narumon on his supervisory duties, even though he was in the process of delegating her. Since he still held the whole strength of secretary, he was duty-bound to attend flooded areas and afflicted people.
But, Dr. Warong insisted that Thamanat no longer serve as agriculture minister on his Facebook website. He argued that the inspection journey took place after the royal order was made, formally appointing the case under the leadership of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Therefore, according to Dr. Warong, Thamanat is now an MP and has no area or business getting involved in the ministry’s interests. He claimed that he would appeal the Constitutional Court if Thamanat continued to participate in observation trips as though he were still minister.
In Australia, Thamanat spent four years in prison for cocaine trafficking in the 1990s. In Thailand, the Constitutional Court ruled in 2021 that a person’s criminal history did not prevent them from holding a government position.
However, more recent criminal views of the amendment’s “ethics” guidelines have led to tougher concerns about the eligibility of some ministries. Thamanat was n’t on the list when Ms. Paetongtarn was forming her cabinet. Rather, he had to sit for aranging a lieutenant president’s place for his brother.
In addition, the Palang Pracharath Party is looking into Thamanat’s reported intervention because he is essentially still an MP despite having recently argued with party leader Prawit Wongsuwon.
There are at least 20 Palang Pracharath MPs in the group, according to Thamanat and his party. He has stated that he is looking into legal channels to get his team and him to leave the party while still holding their MP position.
As a consequence for alleged misdeeds against the Pheu Thai Party and the Shinawatra home, the remaining 20 Palang Pracharath MPs who have been steadfastly opposed to Gen Prawit are now in the criticism.
Piya Tawichai, a spokeswoman for Palang Pracharath, said it was up to Prime Minister Paetongtarn to determine whether she believes Thamanat influenced her decisions regarding her ministers.