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 July 2019 : Prayut’s Cabinet Members
Prayut’s cabinet members On 10 July, thw Royal Gazette website published His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua royal appointment of Prayut Chan-Ocha cabinet members as follow: Deputy PM, Security : Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan Deputy PM, Economy: Mr. Somkid Jatusripitak Deputy PM, Law: Mr. Wissanu Krea-ngam Deputy PM and Commerce Minister : Mr. Jurin Laksanavisit Deputy PM and Public Health Minister : Mr. Anutin Charnveerakul Minister to the PM’s Office: Mr. TewanLiptapanlop Defense Minister : Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha Deputy Defense Minister : Gen. Chaicharn Changmongkol Finance Minister: Mr. Uttama Savanayana Deputy Finance Minister : Mr. Santi Prompat Minister of Foreign Affairs: Mr. Don Pramudwinai Minister of Tourism and Sports: Mr. Pipat Ratchakitprakan Minister of Social Development and Human Secirity: Mr. Juti Krairiksh Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation: Mr. Suvit Maesincee Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives: Mr. Chalermchai Sri-on Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives: Capt. Thammanat Prompao Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives : Ms. Mananya Thaiset Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives : Mr. Prapat Phothasuthon Minister of Transport : Mr. Saksiam Chidchop Deputy Minister of Transport : Mr. Atirat Rattanaset Deputy Minister of Transport : Mr. Thaworn Senneam Minister of Digital for Economy and Society : Mr. Bhuddhipongse Punnakanta Minister of Natural Resources and Environment : Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa Minister of Energy: Mr. Sontirat Sontijirawong Deputy Minister of Commerce: Mr. Veerasak Wangsupakitkosol Interior Minister : Gen. Anupong Paochinda Deputy Interior Minister : Mr. Nipon Boonyamanee Deputy Interior Minister : Mr. Songsak Thongsri Justice Minister : Mr. Somsak Thepsutin Labour Minister : MR Chatumongol Sonakul Culture Minister: Mr. Ittipol Khunploem Industry Minister : Mr. Suriya Jungrungreangkii Education Minister: Mr. Nataphol Teepsuwan Deputy Education Minister: Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich Deputy Education Minister: Ms. Kanokwan Wilawan Prayut’s statement policy delivered On 25 July, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha delivered his policy statement to the Parliament . The 2-hour long statement was summarized as follow: Thailand shall be developed to decrease inequality in society and strengthening the country in all respects over the long term. The government adheres to His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua’s speech, as well as democracy under the constitutional monarchy. The government proposed 12 key policies and another 12 urgent policy matters that will be implemented with honesty and transparency. The 12 key policies are:
The 12 urgent policy matters are:
POLLs reflected the statement policy On 28 July Dusit Poll, conducted a study from 1,262 samplings countrywide, between 24-27 July, on opinions towards the government statement policy, disclosed that the people most wanted, in regards to the 12 keys policies , are:
On the urgent matters, they wanted the government to:
On 27 July the SUPER POLL disclosed its field study, conducted on 26 July, on opinions towards the statement policy gathered from 1,563 people countrywide that:
On their satisfaction on the three sectors: the government, the opposition and the House Speaker, the to score, 6.46 out of 10, went opposition. Followed by the House Speaker 5.84 and the government 5.11. However 79.2% was neither satisfied with any party, while 20.8% has someone in mind such as PM Prayut, Pol. Gen Seripisut Temivej, Mr. Somkid Jatusripitak, Mr. Piyabutr Sangkanoksakul, Dr. Chonnan Srikaew, and Ms. Paveena Kraikupt. It is interesting to learn that when asked who is the outsider they most admired. The answers were Mrs. Paveena Hongsakul, Mr. Thanatorn Juengrungruengkit, Khunying Sudarat Keyurapan, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva etc. while 25.0% has no one. POLL revealed most popular MPs On 28 July, the SUPER POLL revealed its study from 2,111 samplings on satisfaction on the parliamentary debate in regards to the government policy statement. When being asked to name the top five most impressive new MPs, all top three went to the Future Forward Party; Mr. Pitha Limchareonrat, 16.3%, Mr. Piyabutr Sangkanoksakul, 13.1% and Ms. Pannikar Vanij, 11.3%. Number four was Pheu Thai Party Mr. Wan Bamrung, 5.3% and the fifth was Palang Pracharat Party Ms. Paveena Kraikypt, 2.9%. It was interested the three groups; pro-government, not pro-government and silence, rated their satisfaction on the event, the pro-government gave the most 7.07 out of 10 while the not pro-government 3.87, and the silence 5.73. MPs cannot hold political positions On 27 July, Deputy prime minister Wisanu Krua-ngam made a statement that Members of the Parliament cannot hold political positions due to possibility of conflict-of-interest in regards to Section 184 and 185 of the Constitution. Previously there were debates on this matter from speculations that some MPs will be appointed to positions; secretary, assistant secretary, and advisor to the ministers. Court acquittal for 4 PDRC leaders On 25 July, the Criminal Court acquitted 4 leaders of the PDRC (People’s Democratic Reform Committee); Mr. Sondhiyan Chuenharutainaitham 57 year old, Mr. Sakhonthee Pattiyakul 42, Dr. Sombat Dhamrongthanyawong 68, and Dr. Seree Wongmontha 70. They were charged on 8 offences including rebellion conspiracy and opposing the election. The court found there were no evidences that the four had done such the accusation except participated in the demonstration and delivering speeches. However, the Court ordered awaiting lawsuits on another 14 offenders and proceeding cases on the other 32. PDRC held a demonstration between 29 November 2013 until 22 May 2014 Yingluck Shinawatra was the government’s head. They called for political reform. The leader was former Democrat Party MP Suthep Thaugsuban. The demonstration ended when the military coup took over. CC accepted to rule on FFP case On 19 July, the Constitutional Court (CC) accepted a complaint, submitted by Mr. Nattaporn Toprayoon, in regards to Section 49 of the Constitution, to rule whether the Future Forward Party’s (FFP) leader Mr. Thanatorn Jungrungreungkit, secretariat Piyabutr Sangkankosakul and executives had acted to overthrow the constitutional monarchy. The court resolved by 5 to 4 to accept the allegation. Section 49 stipulates: “ No person shall exercise the rights or liberties to overthrow the democratic regime of government with the King as Head of State. Any person who has knowledge of an act under paragraph one shall have the right to petition the Attorney-General to request the Constitutional Court for ordering the cessation of such act In the case where the attorney-General orders a refusal to proceed as petitioned or fails to proceed within fifteen days from the date of receiving the petition, the person making the petition may submit the petition directly to the Constitution Court. The action under this section shall not prejudice the criminal prosecution against the person committing an act under paragraph one.” The court acknowledged the petitioner and ordered the accused to submit their explanations within 15 days after they received copies of the allegation. New Pheu Thai leader elected On 12 July, Pheu Thai Party held a meeting to elect its new leader and Mr. Sompong Amornwiwat was elected. The deputy leaders are Mr. Plodprasop Suraswadee, Mr. Kittirat Na Ranong, Mr. Chusak Sirinil, Mr. Paijit Sriworakhan, Mr. Kriang Kaltinan, Mr. Wittaya Buranasiri, Mr. Samart Kaewmeechai, Mr. Vichan Meenchainan, Mr. Cholnan Srikaew, Mr. Chawalit Wichayasut, Mrs. Laddawan Wongsriwong, Mr. Prasert Chantararuangtong, Mr. Yuttapong Charassathien, Mr. Nakorn Machim, and Pol. Lt. Gen. Somsak Chantaping. The party’s secretariat went to Capt. Anudit Nakornthup and the deputies are Ms. La-ong Tiyapairatch, Mr. Jatuporn Jareancheu, Mr. Jirayu Huangsap, Mr. Sarawut Petchpanonporn, Mr. Surachart Thientong, Ms. Kattiya Sawadipol, and Mr. Paophum Rojanasakul. Eleven MPs are elected into the executive members. This is different from the past when MPs were avoided in order to prevent perching of political rights if the party is dissolved. Natee stripped of MPship from false asset list On 9 July, the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division o for Persons Holding Political Positions sentenced Mrs. Natee Ratchakit Pheu Thai party list MP from Pattalung province to a one month imprisonment and 4,000 baht fined from filing false asset list on 3 July 2011 when she was elected MP and terminated on 9 December 2013. She failed to put her spouse debts 8,575,079 baht and 25 million baht respectively in the lists. Following the verdict, Mrs. Natee is removed from the parliamentary membership and prohibiting from holding political position for five years, starting from December 2013. Col. Dr. Sethapong Maleesuwan, 13th Pheu Thai party list will be promoted. Thailand rank moved up in SDG Index Thailand ranks 40th in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index 2019, moving up 19 places from 2018, according to a report, issued by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network )SDSN) and the Bertelsmann Stiftung. Thailand also comes first among ASEAN countries. In ASEAN, coming after Thailand is Vietnam, at 54th place, Singapore, 66th, Malaysia, 68th, the Philippines, 97th, Indonesia, 102th, Myanmar, 110th, Lao PDR, 111th, and Cambodia, 112th. Brunai Darussalam has not been ranked. According to SDG Index 2019, Thailand receives higher scores on the issues of poverty eradication, water management and sanitation services, decent network and economic growth, and low unemployment rates. The report also shows Thailand’s improvements in public health and living conditions, gender equality, clean energy accessible to all, industry, innovation, and infrastructure sustainable cities and human settlements, and peace, justice, and strong institutions. Cabinet endorses UN counter-terrorism resolution On 2 July, the cabinet resolved to acknowledge and endorse the United Nations Security Council’s March 2019 resolution demanding that member states ensure that their counter-terrorism laws and activities are in compliance with their obligations under international law. The resolution calls upon member states to conduct financial investigations into terrorism-related cases and to investigate and prosecute cases of terrorist financing more effectively, applying criminal sanctions as appropriate. The cabinet has assigned the ministry of defense, finance, transport, digital for economy and society, interior , and justice, the Office of National Intelligence, the National Security Council, the Anti-Momey Laundering office, the Royal Thai Police, the Bank of Thailand, and the Office of the Attorney-General to enforce the UNSC resolution and to report the results to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for consideration. Thailand is a financial and transportation hubs in southeast Asia making its temporary and permanent residence for international terrorists. |
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