Parliament, “Samak” complains of being criticized after criticizing the government’s work, asks “Palang Pracharath” is a follower party of “Pheu Thai” or not, points out that it is a personal right to criticize, reiterates that he cannot be expelled from the party because it is against the Political Party Act.
Mr. Samart Jenchaijitwanich, a member of the Palang Pracharath Party, said after news broke that Lt. Col. Thammanat Prompao, the secretary-general of the Palang Pracharath Party, would expel him from the Palang Pracharath Party because he criticized the work of Mr. Settha Thavisin, the prime minister, and released two songs related to Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, the leader of the Palang Pracharath Party, even though the Palang Pracharath Party is a coalition party, that he did not do anything to damage the party. What he did was criticize the government personally. He did not disclose that he was a representative of the Palang Pracharath Party. When he came out to represent the people who are suffering wit
h their livelihoods, he did it in his own name according to the freedoms and provisions of the constitution.
Mr. Samart continued that if the Prime Minister is damaged, he can file a lawsuit against him. But until now, the Prime Minister has never sued him even once. Also, no member of the Pheu Thai Party has come out to fight back against him. On the contrary, the Palang Pracharath Party is suffering on behalf of the Prime Minister. Therefore, he is confused about whether the party is a follower party or a coalition party. The coalition parties are not follower parties or branches. Our party has Gen. Prawit as a candidate for Prime Minister. If he wants Gen. Prawit to become Prime Minister, is it wrong? Do we need to be expelled from the party?
Mr. Samart continued that he gave the Democrat Party as an example, saying that a party member had criticized the party leader, and the Democrat Party executive committee opened the regulations to find a way to expel the said party member. Until now, they have not f
ound a way to stop him. So, he looked back and saw if the Political Party Act was being used differently. He supported the party leader but was expelled from the party. However, if he was expelled from the Palang Pracharath Party, 60,000 party members would suffer. However, he never criticized a single minister of the Pracharath Party, even though it was a cause of suffering for the people. He understood that politicians must respect each other.
Mr. Samart added that he saw Mr. Worachai Hema, a political advisor to Mr. Phumtham Vejjayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, come out to criticize the Prime Minister’s work, but the Prime Minister did not come out to criticize Mr. Phumtham, and Mr. Phumtham did not criticize Mr. Worachai. He is just a small member of the Palang Pracharath Party who came out to criticize that Mr. Settha did not do a good job and the policy of the 10,000 baht digital wallet project, which he did not agree with and it is his freedom. He has never been expelled from t
he party, but has the person who said that ever been expelled from the party?
Mr. Samart added that he would like to call on the Palang Pracharath Party to write an apology letter to him because the previous time he caused people to misunderstand that he was a bad person. As for talking to Lt. Col. Thammanat, they have not talked yet because the incident did not originate from him. Even though it is more difficult to reach an understanding, it is okay because if Lt. Col. Thammanat does not scold him and he does not scold Lt. Col. Thammanat, there will be no problem. The reason for coming to clarify today is because Lt. Col. Thammanat respects him a lot, so he knows that the past process has identified the perpetrators but he would not talk about it and forgives them.
Mr. Samart added that it would be good to come and apologize to him today. He also never saw any investigation process to prove that he was guilty. In the past, this matter never came to the party executive committee meeting. There were only ru
mors that he was a bad person, a wicked person, a lowly person. Is this fair? Last time, he was new to politics, but today he is not new anymore. He will not die alone and will not let himself be wronged alone. If you ask if he is upset, he would like to ask you back, if it were you, would you be upset? Please put yourself in his shoes.
When asked further that on July 30, 2024, the Palang Pracharath Party had a discussion to prevent such incidents from happening again, Mr. Samart said to write the party regulations, such as political institutions must be a place for discussion, discuss the people’s problems and set policies. If they do not dare to criticize the prime minister who is administering the country, who will the people rely on?
“Even people in the Pheu Thai Party can criticize the prime minister. Who am I? I’m just a member of the party. And when I criticize the prime minister, I do it in my own name. So why should you punish me?” Mr. Samart said.
Reporters reported that while Mr. Samart was givi
ng an interview, it appeared that Mr. Atthakorn Sirilathayakorn, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives from the Palang Pracharath Party and his group came downstairs just in time. Mr. Atthakorn made a pouty face and circled his ear with his hand before looking away and waving his hand in an irritated manner. And when Mr. Atthakorn walked past the media while he was being interviewed, Mr. Samart cleared his throat before walking away immediately.
Source: Thai News Agency