August 5, 2020 Thai Enquirer Summary Political News Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha seems to have given in to the fact that he would have to listen to the demand for changes to the constitution although he came out to warn the student protesters “not to create chaos” after many advocated for reform of Thailand’s constitutional monarchy. Gen Prayut has pledged his support for amendments to the current constitution, the move in which his critics say is just an attempt to placate anti-government protesters. He told all sides to wait for the House committee studying charter amendments to pass resolutions on the matter. He even said the government will prepare its own draft charter as he plans to ask the coalition parties to brainstorm with the core coalition party, according to Thai language Daily News newspaper. “I support changes that are needed and I am not in conflict.” He has not stated, though, what possible changes the parliament would discuss. There are also reports that Gen Prayut held a closed-door meeting with leaders of the key coalition parties, namely his Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, as the Democrat Party leader, and Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnveerakul, as the Bhumjai Thai Party leader, to discuss the charter amendment proposals pushed by the opposition. Gen Prayut told the coalition parties that the government is ready to support the opposition’s call seeking amendments to the charter but he wants to weigh in on their proposals. Juti Krairerk, the Social Development and Human Security Minister and a Democrat Party member, urged the government to hasten the opposition’s call for charter amendments and said the government can claim the credit for initiating the amendments to the charter. The call for possible amendment of the charter did not go well with the appointed senators who have a 5-year term and are all selected by the military regime. Senate Speaker Pornpetch Wichitcholchai openly opposed growing calls from the government coalition parties and the opposition for the setting up of a new constitution drafting assembly (CDA). Pornpetch said he was not against the proposal to seek an amendment to Section 256 but he disagreed with the formation of a new CDA but said there could be many other ways, rather than amending Section 256 to pave the way for the new CDC. Pornpetch also insisted that senators do not attempt to block the charter amendment bid but said there are other issues that should be amended such as a provision in the constitution that deals with single ballots for elections. When asked about whether the provision that allowed the Senate to join the Lower House in voting for a prime minister should be amended, Pornpetch said he would have to reconsider this provision carefully. Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he planned to organise a forum within this month to allow the “young generation” to express their opinions. He said the forum could be in the form of discussions organised by state agencies to address issues or demands of the young generation. The non-political CARE group [standing for Creative Action for Revival & People Empowerment] led by Phumtham Wechayachai is also pushing for a constitutional amendment. The group plans to hold a seminar group entitled, “CARE inviting to think and drive forward the rewriting of dream charter of the people” on August 8 at LIDO Connect, Siam Square to push for constitutional amendments and the drafting of a true democratic constitution. The group expressed a clear stance for its demand for constitutional amendments to be conducted in 3 phases: Holding forums to the compiling opinions of academics, tertiary, university students and the general public, starting from August 8; Publishing educational tools to educate the public about the history of previous constitutions for a comparative study. Laying out the details of the draft charter for the new charter for the public. This draft charter will be called the CARE’s version of the people’s dream charter”. Reports of government spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat resigning from her post yesterday (August 4) have fuelled rampant speculation of who will be picked as new government spokesperson. Some reports have come out that chances for Phalang Pracharat Party (PPRP) spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana will be picked as new government spokesman is also highly likely. However, when asked about the matter, Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told reporters that he had yet to decide on the appointment but said he already had someone in mind and told reporters to wait and see if the person will be an insider or outsider, a man or a woman. He said the Cabinet has not put up an agenda to pick a new government spokesperson. Any party can make a nomination but the final decision rests with him. The cabinet meeting on Tuesday (August 4) did not talk about the issue, according to deputy government spokeswoman Traisulee Traisoranakul. However, there are reports that Gen Prayut is taking Thanakorn into consideration due to his former experience as former secretary to the finance minister who could immediately provide information and responses to political issues raised by government critics and the opposition. The House of Representatives has been asked to pay for 3.5 million baht’s worth of reserved airline tickets by Nok Air after many MPs and former MPs booked flights but failed to take them, Somboon Uthaiweignkul, the secretary to the House Speaker revealed. The move was revealed after executives of the airline sought a meeting with House Speaker Chuan Leekpai on the occasion that they offered well wishes to Chuan on his birthday anniversary at Parliament yesterday (August 4). Somboon said the Secretariat of the House of Representatives received a letter on June 17 informing it about 3,522,419 baht in bills for collection from Nok Air. The expenses came from reserved tickets booked by 113 MPs and former MPs during 2012-2013. Some of them have reserved tickets worth 200,000- 300,000 baht. Initially, Chuan told the airline to send letter to inform MPs and former MPs in question to pay for their unpaid tickets because they are personal matter. The House is not liable to act on behalf of the company to ask for MPs and former MPs to pay for their unpaid bills. Political activist Srisuwan Janya, secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of the Constitution, said he will today (August 5) petition the Prime Minister to delay the appointment of new national police chief set for August 7 due to suspicion surrounding deputy national police chief Pol Gen Wirachai Songmetta’s transfer. Srisuwan said he would ask the Prime Minister to delay the appointment of new national police chief because there is sufficient ground that the transfer order signed by the national police chief for Pol Gen Wirachai is suspicious. He demanded Gen Prayut to halt the appointment of new national police chief until allegations against Pol Gen Wirachai who was accused of breaching serious disciplinary criminal action are resolved to ensure fairness and transparency. Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday (August 4) issued a stern warning over the shooting incident at an illegal gambling den on Rama III Road in Bangkok’s Yannawa District that he would “spare no one”. Four people including a police major were killed in a shooting incident according to Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner Lt. Gen. Pakapong Pongpetra. Police reported that gunshots were fired at the venue in the small casino in Bangkok, the bodies of 2 women and 2 men were located including police Maj. Wathaseth Sumniangprasert, Pol Lt Gen Pakapong said in a news conference yesterday. Wathaseth was not on duty Monday night and was taking part in the gambling. An initial investigation found that the other dead man had shot the police officer and then turned and fired wildly at the crowd, killing the 2 women. An unknown person then shot and killed the first gunman and fled before police could arrive from a nearby precinct, Pol Lt Gen Pakapong said, adding that it seemed the gunman bore some grudge against the policeman. The issue of further investigation into the shooting seems to be taking similar path to the case of Red Bull heir Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya as police is saying that they did not find any close circuit tv cameras when they entered the area. Although pictures from yesterday showed CCTV cameras all over the place. Take a look for yourself. The police reached the venue of the shoot out nearly 2 hours after the incident thus giving enough time for the illegal gambling den to clear up the casino and the CCTV cameras. The Casino before all this with a picture taken some time ago On the latest development on the Red Bull heir Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya’s hit-and- run case that killed of a policeman, the Office of Attorney General (OAG) has ordered a new investigation into the case yesterday (August 4). Prosecutors said new evidence showed that Vorayuth was driving much faster than first believed and might have had cocaine in his system, allowing them to reopen the case. The OAG’s decision comes after previous charges were dropped last month, sparking outrage. In a press conference, the OAG said new evidence meant that the case could be reopened. It said the speed of the Ferrari at the time of the accident had previously been put at 80km/h (50 mph), but an expert opinion not included in the police report had determined that the speed was closer to 170km/h.