PM rejects House panel summons over oath

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has rejected a House committee’s call for him to clarify his failure to complete the recital of the oath of office, saying the issue has already been laid to rest.

The House committee on the prevention and suppression of corruption yesterday resolved to summon Gen Prayut, and Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon to give information on the issue on Nov 30.

The committee is chaired by the leader of the opposition Seri Ruam Thai Party, Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temeeyaves.

Asked about the summons, Gen Prayut only said the issue “was over already” before walking upstairs to his office at Government House.

Paiboon Nititawan, an MP from the ruling Palang Pracharath Party, said the House committee had no authority to summon Gen Prayut and Gen Prawit.

Mr Paiboon said that the Constitutional Court has rejected a petition related to the oath issue and ruled that it was beyond the authority of any organisation under the constitution to examine it.

This includes the House committee, Mr Paiboon said, adding that the committee should revoke its summons otherwise it could be accused of malfeasance in violation of Section 157 of the Criminal Code.

The Constitutional Court rejected the petition lodged by the Ombudsman on Sept 11.

The court said oath-taking is a political issue and concerns a “specific relationship” between the administrative branch and the monarchy. It was beyond the jurisdiction of the court to examine the issue, the court ruling said.

On July 16, Gen Prayut led cabinet ministers at a swearing-in ceremony before HM the King at the Ambara Villa in Dusit Palace.

However, the prime minister failed to recite the final sentence of Section 161 of the constitution, which requires the oath-taker to uphold and abide by the constitution.

The omission prompted questions over the validity of his premiership among opposition parties and political activists.

The court went on to explain that after Gen Prayut and his cabinet completed the oath-taking, His Majesty the King responded by offering his moral support to the government in carrying out its duties in line with the oath it had made.

Then, on Aug 27, amid growing criticism directed at Gen Prayut for failing to complete the oath, His Majesty the King issued a written message of reiterating his support to the prime minister and cabinet, advising them to perform their duties in line with their oaths of office.

Gen Prayut and ministers received the message in turn before a portrait of the King at Government House.