Gen Prawit no longer Pheu Thai target

The opposition Pheu Thai Party has decided not to grill Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon in the upcoming no-confidence debate, but will not stop its allies from doing so, a party member said.

Wattanarak Amnaksoradet, who is in charge of Pheu Thai Party’s special affairs committee, said Gen Prawit was not being targeted because information about alleged misconduct or wrongdoing remained sketchy, though party members can come forward if they find fresh evidence against him.

Pol Col Wattanarak said Pheu Thai will also not object if other opposition parties wanted to grill Gen Prawit in the censure debate, which is expected to be held next month.

He denied reports that the party was being pressured to drop Gen Prawit from the no-confidence motion, saying that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was the main focus and the party was confident it had adequate evidence against him.

Another Pheu Thai source, who asked not to be named, said the number of debate targets remained at five and included Gen Prayut, his deputies Wissanu Krea-ngam and Somkid Jatusripitak, Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai.

However, many MPs are unhappy because they believe they have enough evidence to scrutinise Gen Prawit as well. Another minister who may possibly face scrutiny is Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob, he said.

Pheu Thai adviser, Phumtham Wechayachai, said yesterday the no-confidence motion will be submitted next week and it was up to the House Speaker to work out when the debate would take place.

He said opposition parties will also meet next week to review the framework for the debate and Pheu Thai will draft the censure motion.