Thai PM faces petition over jailed activist adviser appointment
Activist Sonthiya Sawasdee has lodged a petition against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra concerning the appointment of a former jailed activist as her adviser.
Sonthiya requested that the Office of the Attorney-General forward his complaint to the Constitutional Court regarding the appointment of Nattawut Saikuar, a significant figure in the red shirt movement, on October 4 last year.
Sonthiya claims that PM Paetongtarn breached multiple sections of the Constitution, including Section 160, which stipulates that Cabinet ministers must uphold moral integrity and ethical standards for political officeholders.
The court had previously removed former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office last year due to an ethical violation related to appointing a lawyer with a criminal record to the Cabinet. This led to the resignation of the entire Cabinet and the formation of a new administration under PM Paetongtarn.
Sonthiya pointed out that Nattawut had been banned from politics for ten years and, in 2020, was sentenced to two years in jail for a violent protest in 2007 outside the residence of the late Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda. The 10-year ban remains active. Nattawut was a deputy commerce and agriculture minister in the Yingluck Shinawatra government from 2012 to 2014.
According to Sonthiya, the advisory role offered by the Thai prime minister was a political position. His petition followed similar complaints from activists Nopparut Worachitwutthikul and Ruangkrai Leekitwattana in October.
More than a dozen petitions, at least six from Ruangkrai, have been submitted against the Pheu Thai Party and/or the 38 year old Thai premier to the Election Commission and other agencies. These petitions allege corruption or ethics violations related to various decisions made by the prime minister or the party, reported Bangkok Post.
ORIGINAL STORY: Petition calls for PM Paetongtarn’s removal: Adviser appointment
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is embroiled in controversy once again, with a new petition demanding her removal from office over her appointment of Nattawut Saikua as an adviser. Nattawut, a former director of the Pheu Thai family, has a contentious past, leading to the latest challenge against the 38 year old PM’s judgement.
Activist Nopparut Worachitwutthikul, formerly a leader of the Pirabkhao 2006 group, filed the petition with the Election Commission (EC) yesterday, October 15. Nopparut contends that Paetongtarn’s decision to appoint Nattawut as her adviser is a violation of the law.
Nopparut highlighted that Nattawut had previously served jail time for orchestrating a violent red-shirt protest outside the residence of the late Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda on July 22, 2007. As a condition for his early release, Nattawut was required to participate in the royally initiated Kok Nong Na-model farming programme for prisoners, organised by the Corrections Department.
However, Somsak Thepsutin, who was the justice minister at the time, reportedly signed a letter excusing Nattawut from the training, leading to his subsequent release from prison.
Nopparut urged the EC to scrutinise Paetongtarn’s use of her authority in appointing Nattawut, considering his past legal violations. He also criticised Somsak, now serving as the public health minister, for not maintaining honesty standards about the letter that facilitated Nattawut’s release.
The activist expressed concerns that Nattawut’s advisory role might unduly influence the prime minister, potentially leading her to make poor decisions.
“She might not be on to Nattawut.”
Nopparut emphasised the significant power that the adviser position holds, which could overshadow the Thai PM.
Nopparut also revealed plans to file a similar petition against Paetongtarn with the Constitutional Court through the attorney general and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), reported Bangkok Post.
“This is no trivial matter.”
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