By Thai Newsroom Reporters
PRIME MINISTER Anutin Charnvirakul was today (June 15) repeatedly pressed to set up an “independent” committee to look into allegations that a senior government official had unlawfully ordered any of his subordinates via Line messages to “Do Help the Blue”, apparently referring to the Bhumjaithai electoral campaign during the run-up to a nationwide race to parliament earlier this year.
People’s MP Parit Wacharasindhu said the prime minister who concurrently acts as interior minister and leader of the Bhumjaithai, currently core of the coalition government covertly steered by de facto party boss Newin Chidchob, has not yet moved toward persistent calls for him to set up an “independent” committee to investigate the scandal in which Provincial Administration Department Director-General Narucha Kosacivilize had texted former Phuket provincial undersecretary Rungruang Thimabut with the phrase “Do Help the Blue” about one month ahead of the nationwide election.
The People’s MP advised that the sought-after panel not consist of persons who may be more or less associated with or supportive, either directly or indirectly, of the ruling Bhumjaithai who would otherwise only look to cover up any wrongdoings earlier perpetrated by fellow “Blue” elements.
Parit pointed out that Anutin has not yet done anything about the disreputable phenomenon since nearly a couple of weeks earlier when it emerged and drew public attention and since the prime minister verbally pledged to set up sort of a fact-finding committee for that matter.
Such Line messages from the department chief were believed to not only have been sent to the former undersecretary of the southern island province but many others under his command, however.
Parit made his comments after his fellow People’s MP Chalermpong Saengdee and ex-People’s MP Wirot Lakkhanaadisorn had earlier petitioned “independent” agencies, namely the National Anti-Corruption Commission and Election Commission, to launch parallel investigations into the sustained scandal surrounding the chief of the provincial administration department.
Narucha has categorically dismissed the allegations saying his Line account could have been used by others without his knowledge.
Nevertheless, the department chief, known as a protege of the de facto Bhumjaithai boss, is more or less speculated to be promoted as undersecretary for interior among others in annual transfers of government officials in the next few months.
In his dual capacity as prime minister and interior minister, Anutin had transferred many senior officials of the Ministry of Interior who took command of officials at provincial, district and local levels nationwide just before he dissolved the House of Representatives last December to call the general election for MPs last February.
The nationwide election saw the ultra-conservative Bhumjaithai grab a record 192 out of a total 500 MP seats though none of a trio of MP seats for Phuket was won by Newin’s camp.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page – Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Photos – PPTVHD36
First insert – People’s MP Parit Wacharasindhu. Photo – PPTVHD36
Second insert – Provincial Administration Department Director-General Narucha Kosacivilize. Photo – Amarin TV
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