NCPO calls Pichai in for another chat

Former energy minister and Pheu Thai MP Pichai Naripthaphan has been summoned by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) for an eighth time.

“Lt Col Peerayut Sawetseranee from the NCPO called and invited me to go the First Army Region Command this Friday. He will pick me up at home at 12pm,” Mr Pichai wrote on Facebook yesterday.

The outspoken politician told the Bangkok Post he did not know why he was being summoned again. The last time was in September 2015 when he had to spend seven days in a house at a military camp. The six previous times, Mr Pichai discussed the economy with NCPO officials.

Meanwhile in Maha Sarakham, former deputy agriculture minister and former Pheu Thai MP Yutthapong Charasatien said eight soldiers from the 2nd Army Region came to his home to ask him to answer Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s four questions.

The questions included whether the next election would give Thailand a government providing good governance, what to do if it leads to a government that does not, whether it was right to just think of the election without considering other issues and whether political groups with inappropriate behaviour should be allowed to run in the election. The former MP said he obviously does not know what the election outcome would be but he would respect the people’s choice no matter what it is.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon yesterday said it was not NCPO policy to send soldiers to get people’s answers at their homes.

Meanwhile, Gen Prayut has said people might have taken his four questions too seriously. He did not expect a barrage of people to answer them.

“Don’t become anyone’s tool, that’s important. It is worrisome nowadays with [online] polls that ask people to press Like,” he said, adding that the number of Likes is not reliable.

The Interior Ministry’s website yesterday showed that 7,012 people responded to the premier’s questions on Monday, the first day people were asked to file answers at its Damrongdhama Centres.

They include 395 in Bangkok, 662 in Kalasin, and 408 in Saraburi.