Protests

Palang Pracharath MP calls for probe into Pheu Thai MP who cut own arm in parliament

Published

7 months ago

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Maya Taylor

Wisarn pictured with his daughter - PHOTO: www.newsbeezer.com / Facebook

Opposition politicians are clashing over the actions of one MP who deliberately cut his arm in an act of self-harm to draw attention to the plight of anti-government protesters. Palang Pracharath MP, Sira Jenjaka, is threatening Wisarn Techathirawat, Pheu Thai MP for Chiang Rai, with removal from office for what he’s calling a publicity stunt.

On Tuesday, during a special joint parliamentary session aimed at finding a solution to the ongoing political unrest, Wisarn produced a knife and proceeded to cut his left arm 3 times. Prior to producing the knife, he had criticised the PM, Prayut Chan-o-cha, for using unnecessary force against peaceful protesters, and called on him to listen to their demands.

He said he did not want to see their blood shed and would rather lose his own. He then produced the knife and ignored calls from parliament president Chuan Leekpai not to cut himself. He subsequently received 9 stitches at Bangkok’s Vachira Hospital.

Sira says he plans to petition the National Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate Wisarn for allegedly violating the ethical code for MPs. He is also calling on Parliament to investigate the Pheu Thai MP’s action. He accuses Wisarn of having cut himself to garner media attention ahead of provincial elections around the country, pointing out that Wisarn’s daughter is contesting an election in Chiang Rai.

Sira says Wisarn’s actions are a disgrace to parliament, adding that security should be improved to prevent people bringing weapons into the building. However, Ubonsak Bualuang-ngam, Wisarn’s fellow Pheu Thai MP, says Wisarn borrowed the fruit knife from a maid working in the building. He says that, in his opinion, his colleague did not breach any ethical code.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

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9 Comments

sam thompson

Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 11:54 am

A pathetic, purile, melodramatic, attention seeking gesture from someone who is not fitmto hold office responsibly….ban him for a few years

Reply
- #BLM
  
  Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 7:19 pm
  
  But its okay to be.a.convicted heroin smuggler, steal 500 rai of public land.for.personal use, or other corrupt activities????
  
  Reply
Issan John

Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 12:40 pm

Yes, attention-seeking and melodramatic, etc, but the suggestion that anyone should be “banned” for this or any other offence is even worse.

It’s bad enough banning more than 90% of the Thai population from being MPs because they don’t have a degree, without adding more unnecessary restrictions on who the Thai people can choose to represent them.

If all those who are “pathetic, purile, melodramatic (and) attention seeking” were banned from office that would rule out not just plenty of MPs in the West but a good few Presidents and Prime Ministers.

It should be up to the electorate who they choose to represent them and who they see as “fit to hold office”, nobody else – that’s an essential part of democracy at it’s most basic.

Reply
- Fred glue
  
  Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 12:54 pm
  
  Isaan John, why do you people from Germany complain & moan al the time, just let Thailand be Thailand.
  
  Reply
  - Issan John
    
    Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 1:49 pm
    
    “… you people from Germany …”?
    
    Way too much glue sniffing.
    
    … and I’m very happy for Thailand to be Thailand – that’s why I’m here!
    
    Reply
    - Fred glue
      
      Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 2:41 pm
      
      That’s another country you trying wreck, go back too your home land in Germany, and leave all the Thai people alone. Thumping your fist on the table because you can’t get your own way.
      Swim & walk if you have too..
      
      Reply
      - Issan John
        
        Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 2:59 pm
        
        Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not German (not that there’s anything wrong with that), and nearly all my “fist thumping” here has actually been to say that Thailand and the Thais have very much got it right despite others (nearly all of them foreigners) complaining to the contrary.
        
        Way, way too much glue …
      - Ryan Lih
        
        Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 8:00 pm
        
        The disgruntled & insulted Thai person I suppose. Well there’s no ethics to allege Issan John is German and all that diatribe you have of him. He’s merely stating his knowledgeable observations given the years he’s been in Thailand. Emotions will cloud the mind. Leave the insults else where.
German Mike

Friday, October 30, 2020 at 2:28 am

I guess cutting is more theatrical than if he had pepper sprayed himself.

Reply

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Maya Taylor

A seasoned writer, with a degree in Creative Writing. Over ten years' experience in producing blog and magazine articles, news reports and website content.

Politics

PM representatives file police complaint against Thai singer and government critic

Published

4 days ago

Friday, May 14, 2021

Maya Taylor

Suthipong Thatpitakkul (left) with former PM, Abhisit Vejjajiva. PHOTO: Wikimedia/โดย Government of Thailand

Representatives of Thai PM, Prayut Chan-o-cha, have filed a police complaint against the Thai singer Suthipong Tadpitakkul, aka, “Heart”. Suthipong has criticised the government’s vaccine procurement plan, a move that has led to accusations of violating the Computer Crime Act and Thailand’s strict lèse majesté law.

The PM’s lawyer, Apiwat Kanthong, and his assistant minister, Seksakon Atthawong (aka “Rambo Isan”) yesterday filed a complaint with Nang Loeng police. According to the Bangkok Post, the complaint alleges that Suthipong shared a Facebook post containing information on the government’s vaccine procurement plan. The original post has since been deleted, but Apiwat says Suthipong’s is still there.

The PM’s representatives say not only has the singer not deleted the post, he has added comments to it, such as, “It is a vaccine of the boss” and, “It is a Covid-19 vaccine monopoly”. It is this wording that has led to allegations of lèse majesté, with Apiwat accusing the singer of insulting the highest institution.

Thailand’s lèse majesté law prohibits criticising, insulting or otherwise defaming the monarchy. The law allows for anyone to bring charges against anyone else and carries a sentence of up to 15 years’ imprisonment.

Seksakon says a similar complaint was previously made against Suthipong, on that occasion with the Technology Crime Suppression Division. He says that, as a celebrity, the singer needs to be more careful with his words, adding that everyone reading his comments on Facebook knows what he is referring to.

The Bangkok Post reports that, in a subsequent Facebook post, Suthipong dismissed the complaint.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

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Politics

Opposition party forms new subcommittee to remove Thammanat

Published

5 days ago

Thursday, May 13, 2021

Neill Fronde

FILE PHOTO: A new subcommittee will investigate embattled Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thammanat Prompaew.

The opposition party has created a new subcommittee to push for the removal of embattled Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thammanat Prompaew after the Constitutional Court’s ruling last week that he is fit to serve despite his Australian drug trafficking conviction. The Court ruled that the minister, a member of the Palang Pracharath Party, is qualified despite spending 4 years in prison in Australia in 1994.

Move Forward Party member of Parliament Thiratchai Phanthumat is the spokesperson for the House Committee on Suppression and Prevention of Corruption and Misconduct. He heads the new subcommittee and is investigating and pursuing legal action against Thammanat for various allegations and accusations of misconduct.

Hiding information about his Australian criminal record before receiving royal decoration and joining the cabinet could be a violation of ethical code. The subcommittee also seeks to learn more information about the drug smuggling between Thailand and Australia which resulted in Thammanat’s prison sentence. The leader of Seri Ruam Thai chairs the House committee and confirmed that there are still 3 years before the expiration of the statute of limitation on Thamanat’s 1993 drug conviction.

The subcommittee is requesting the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, along with any other state agency with information or involvement, to share their data and further investigate.

The Constitutional Court had given Thammanat a pass saying that convictions and jail sentences must be from Thai courts, as foreign courts cannot make legally binding rulings in Thailand. The conviction in the New South Wales Court in Australia therefore would be disregarded in the consideration of whether or not Thammanat was eligible to hold his cabinets post or any other political position.

51 Move Forward Party members of Parliament, opponents of the PPRP, had petitioned for Thammanat’s removal after details resurfaced regarding his heroin smuggling conviction and prison sentence in Australia.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

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Politics

Royal Thai police say new uniforms will help in pursuit of criminals

Published

1 week ago

Monday, May 10, 2021

Ann Carter

Stock photo via US National Archives

The Royal Thai Police say new uniforms will help them be more “agile” in their pursuits of criminals. The uniform’s prototype is still under trials and has yet to be launched. The move to change uniforms has been attempted in the past, with tourist police once seeing their usual long-sleeved khaki shirt with shoulder pads and metal badges morph to short-sleeved shirts and blue shorts. But previous modifications to their attires was short-lived.

Somprasong Yenthuam, the deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau has been assigned by the police chief to oversee the uniform change this time around. A committee has been formed to study the input gathered from officers across the country, as well as the public. But the police chief wants the new uniforms to be suited to patrol operations with a final decision being made after a 10-day trial period of the uniforms.

The new style of uniform is currently being tested at the 3 police stations of Chakkrawat, Bang Yi Khan and Bukhalo in Bangkok. The trial started on May 3 and will run until this Thursday, with 10 active-duty officers, at the operational level, trying out the new uniforms.

“The three police stations were chosen because they are ready for the trial as the areas under their jurisdiction are fairly large with many residents.”

The uniforms feature a baseball-style cap, which is much lighter than the traditional police helmets, and a shirt with 2 panels. The upper panel is made of khaki while the lower is made from a more breathable fabric which is easy to launder. The new badges are made of cloth, taking into account previous complaints by officers of the badges’ jagged edges injuring them while working. The new pants feature an elastic waistband and multiple pockets. The new shoes are designed for running without causing foot pain.

“The committee has studied police uniforms from around the world before deciding on the prototype. But what is most important is the opinion of police officers who use it, and the public. Whether the proposed new police uniform will convey less power or authority remains to be seen. It is not finalised yet and can still be changed.”

The new uniforms cost around 2,000 baht but Somprasong says the department will use its annual provision to pay for the uniforms without needing to add more money. Krisanaphong Poothakool, an associate professor of criminology and assistant president at Rangsit University, says the new uniform must help officers be more agile.

“However, how the officers perform their duties and behave themselves in public is more important than their uniforms. Changing the uniform will be useless if the officers fail to improve their behaviour.”

Royal Thai police say new uniforms will help in pursuit of criminals | News by Thaiger SOURCE: Bangkok Post