Wissanu defends PM board
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam defended a controversial giant billboard praising Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha in Ratchaburi, saying there is nothing wrong with it as a royal decree on the election has yet to be announced.
“Today, this can be done,” Mr Wissanu said. “But once the royal decree on election comes out, people must be careful about it.”
Any party could do so without breaking any laws, he said, before adding that the images of prime ministerial candidates can now be shown on billboards by political parties.
After the decree is announced, such billboards would have to be listed as “electioneering expenses”, said the deputy premier in charge of legal affairs.
A local villager in Ratchaburi said yesterday the billboard was installed on Phetkasem Road in tambon Wangyen of Bang Phae district three days before.
After the board made the news, it was taken down on Wednesday evening, the villager said.
The board has an image of Gen Prayut shaking hands with UK Prime Minister Theresa May.
It contains messages praising the prime minister, including “Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is a prime minister who is not corrupt” and “He has the dedication, will, honesty and integrity to work for the country and the people”.
The board bears the name of the Network of People Against Corruption.
The board has been widely criticised, including by Veera Somkwamkid, who said he would file a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) as it appears to break election laws.
Thai Raksa Chart Party’s core member, Chaturon Chaisang, echoed Mr Veera, saying the billboard was an obvious violation of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s order that forbids electioneering.
Pol Lt Col Dithachart Kosanan, director of Ratchaburi’s Election Commission office, said he was aware of the billboard and he would report the issue to the EC, which will deliberate whether it breaches any law.
He said that despite the fact that the election has not been called yet, billboards bearing pictures of politicians can be seen nationwide.
These billboards would be documented, he said, before adding that all complaints about the billboards will be considered.
Pol Lt Col Dithachart said he does not know who ordered the billboard be installed on Phetkasem Road.