Wirote’ is angry that the Defense Ministry does not have only one Minister after ‘Phumtham’ refused to answer 2 questions, announcing that he is preparing to use the role of the ‘Military Committee’ to investigate the death of a soldier in the camp. If it is considered torture, he will submit it to the Public Prosecutor’s Office – DSI to take action without exception.
The House of Representatives meeting was chaired by Mr. Paradorn Prisananantakul, the second deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, to consider an oral question from Mr. Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, a party-list MP from the Pheu Thai Party, to Mr. Phumtham Vejjayachai, the deputy prime minister and minister of defense, regarding the death of a soldier in a military camp. However, Mr. Phumtham wrote a letter stating that the minister of defense had an important and urgent task and was unable to answer the question, so he requested to postpone the answer. If Mr. Wiroj still wishes to make it an oral question, he can propose it again next time.
Mr. Wiroj discussed that the Ministry of Defense does not only have one minister, but also an assistant minister, and we have spoken in the parliament many times, not just the opposition, but also the government whip, and Ms. Manoporn Charoensri, Deputy Minister of Transport, has also spoken and expressed her discomfort that the minister did not give importance to answering questions.
‘Today, I am still glad to see the face of Mr. Somsak Thepsuthin, Minister of Public Health, on standby. Why can Mr. Somsak do it? Why can’t others? Why can’t the cabinet of the Prime Minister, since the time of Mr. Settha Thavisin, the former Prime Minister, until now, Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, tighten the screws on this matter? And I would like to remind the chairman that if we look back at the cabinet resolutions during Mr. Settha’s era, there was a cabinet resolution that the ministers were on standby to answer questions and respect the parliament in writing,’ said Mr. Wiroj.
Mr. Wiroj continued that the matter that he
will discuss with the Minister of Defense, we have no attitude to respond or curse at all. We will discuss how to make the case of death from torture of soldiers in military camps disappear. Because I understand that Mr. Phumtham has just taken office, so he will discuss this matter, whether to issue regulations or what to do to make parents and guardians of children in military camps feel at ease. Nowadays, when we hear news of the death of soldiers, what should be the sacrifice for the nation, the death from the sharp edge of the enemy’s weapon. But today, it is the death of soldiers of the same nation, the death from the power-hungryness of military commanders, while the camp commander never looks after them. Today, it has been proven that the highest executive of the Ministry of Defense, which is the Minister of Defense, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs, does not care about the lives of soldiers in military camps. Therefore, how can the project of voluntary military recruitment b
e canceled by this government? It is just empty talk.
‘I would like to ask the Minister of Defense that since you do not care about the lives lost in the military camp, as the chairman of the Military Committee, I will personally investigate this matter. If it falls under torture, I will write a letter to the Attorney General, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), and the prosecutors of the investigation department to prosecute those involved, including the commanding officers, under Section 42 of the Enforced Disappearance Act without exception,’ said Mr. Wiroj.
Mr. Pharadon explained that he understood the role of the House of Representatives in answering questions in the government of Ms. Paethongtarn after he took on the role of Deputy Speaker of the House 3-4 weeks ago. Regarding the live oral questions, the minister gave importance to the House. Only this week did the minister not come to answer live questions. However, he would like to ask Mr. Somsak to remind the cabinet meeting that on Thu
rsday, if possible, the minister should be on standby because there is only one day.
Then it was time for a live oral Q and A session, the second question from Mr. Kanwee Sipsang, MP for the party-list party of the Pentham Party, asking Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, the Prime Minister, who assigned Mr. Phumtham to answer the question instead, but Mr. Phumtham had other engagements and asked to postpone answering the question.
Mr. Kanwee discussed that he understood the commitment, but discussions with relevant ministers were important for peace and human rights, regarding extradition, including the Myanmar peace-seeker problem that affected Thailand. However, he asked the Thai government to take human rights into account so as not to be criticized or have an impact on Thailand’s reputation in the international arena and as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Source: Thai News Agency