His Majesty appoints 200 National Legislative Assembly members

– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: His Majesty the King has issued a royal command to appoint 200 members of the National Legislative Assembly. More than half of them are either former and active military officers as expected.

HM the King has endorsed the list of the 200 National Legislatie Assembly members and ordered the inaugural meeting to be on August 7. The list has been published on the Royal Gazette and it was also announced on TV Pool Thursday night. The NLA members include several figures who are seen as being members of the anti-Thaksin movement. They include Klanarong Chanthink, former secretary general of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, former senators; Surachai Liangboonlertchai and Somchai Sawaengkarn.

Many are either active and retired military officers, including Adm Kamthorn Pumhiran, Lt Gen Chart-udom Tithasiri, Lt Gen Preecha Chanthara-ocha, and Gen Boonsang Niampradit.

Several leading academics were also appointed, including Noraniti Setthabutr, former rector of Thammasat University, and Somkid Lertphaithoon, former rector of Thammasat who is known to be against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Former Ambassador to England Kitti Wasinond is also appointed.

Some figures are seen as being on the Thaksin’s side, including former permanent secretary for Defence Gen Nipat Thonglek.

From business sectors included Suphan Mongkol; president of the Federation of Thai Industries, Boonthak Wangcharoen; chairman of the Thai Bankers Association. Som Chatusriphithak, an elder brother of former finance minister Somkid Chatusriphithak, was also appointed. Leading businessmen in the NLA include Boonchai Chokwatana, chairman of Saha Pathanapibul, Suphan Mongkolsuthee, chairman of Federation of Thai Industries, and Issara Vongkusolkit, chairman of Mitr Phol Sugar and chairman of Thai Chamber of Commerce.

— Phuket Gazette Editors