By Thai Newsroom Reporters
PRIME MINISTER SRETTHA Thavisin and the Pheu Thai-led government have been warned today (Apr. 3) to not repeat the alleged compromising and flaunting of the country’s rules of law in favour of deposed prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra who is reportedly looking to return home from self-exile abroad.
During the first day of censure debate without a subsequent vote of confidence at parliament, former Democrat leader Jurin Laksanavisit called on the Pheu Thai-backed prime minister to see to it that the existing rules of law be practically observed by the authorities to the extent that Yingluck be literally put behind bars to serve a five-year jail sentence for her court-verdicted, duty-negligence charges pertaining to a previous Pheu Thai government’s corruption-infested rice subsidy campaign.
Jurin said double standards allegedly applied in favour of Thaksin which might probably be repeated in favour of Yingluck are undoubtedly raising the most “corrosive” question which could probably spoil their legal integrity and put their political stability and confidence at risk.
“If the government cannot virtually step beyond the power-showing-off person, the country’s rules of law could probably be compromised and flaunted at any given time.
“The prime minister did not only ride in an official automobile to visit (Thaksin) at his home but suggested coalition MPs follow suit sooner or later,” the former Democrat leader/former deputy prime minister said.
Jurin was referring to Srettha who appeared to be the second guest to have visited Thaksin at his Chan Song Lah residence shortly after former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen had done so.
At that instant, a few Pheu Thai MPs rose to their feet in protest of the former Democrat leader’s speech which involved their de facto boss, albeit without mentioning him by name.
Srettha had been apparently frustrated and annoyed at allegations that he was merely a “puppet” prime minister pulled around by the de facto Pheu Thai boss who would perform behind the scenes as though he himself was the other head of government.
“Many people have already taken for granted that there is more than one prime minister running the country, ranging from Prime Minister Nid, Prime Minister Big and Prime Minister Small,” Jurin put it, apparently referring to Srettha whose nickname is Nid which literally means “little”, Thaksin as “big” for allegedly being viewed as the de facto Pheu Thai boss and Thaksin’s daughter/Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra as “small.”
Without mentioning Thakin by name, Jurin blamed the Pheu Thai-led government for allegedly raising a new breed of convicts through the one who had returned home without having to serve his curtailed one-year jail sentence and been allegedly granted double-standard privileges and was finally granted parole at the cost of the country’s judicial process.
“Would there be another mock jail term for another angel convict who may return home, too? Would the country’s rules of law get topsy-turvy again in favour of the other angel convict who had been charged with duty negligence in office?,” Jurin said, apparently referring to Yingluck without mentioning her by name.
Nevertheless, Justice Minister Thavi Sodsong categorically denied during the marathon censure debate that the existing rules of law had been compromised or any legal loopholes had been used in favour of the de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict on parole.
The Prachachart-attached justice minister responded that the former Democrat leader and other opposition MPs were prejudiced and had poor judgement of the Pheu Thai-led government as well as the de facto Pheu Thai boss.
CAPTION:
Former Democrat leader Jurin Laksanavisit. Top photo: Thai Rath, Front Page photo: Matichon
Insert: Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Photo: Thai Rath
Also read: Yingluck being named UN special envoy for Myanmar could be April Fools’ Day prank
Gold zooms with price up 450 baht now exceeding 40,000 baht
WWII tunnels not a new find, says author
US, Filipino air forces holding joint air exercise over South China Sea
World Happiness Report: Why is Finland #1 and Thailand #58?
April Fools’ Day story: Woman makes a fool of herself for nothing
