Pheu Thai party-list MP Prayut Siripanich has agreed to withdraw his draft bill, aimed at amending the Ministry of Defence Organisation Act to prevent the military from staging coups to topple Thai governments in the future.
He said yesterday that he will inform the party, at a meeting tomorrow morning and before the opening of the parliamentary session, of his decision to withdraw the draft bill for a review, given the amount of opposition voiced regarding its contents.
He also said that, after the party grants him permission to withdraw the bill, he will notify the House of Representatives on the same day to withdraw it from the House agenda.
The Ratchaburi MP insists that the bill is his own initiative, adding that he will wait until the end of this month for more public feedback before deciding whether the bill should be reviewed or revised.
Prayut maintains that the bill does not empower the cabinet to interfere in military affairs, but it would enable the cabinet to have a say in the promotions to the rank of General.
“There are Defence Ministry regulations governing military promotions, it is not the cabinet,” said the MP, adding that the bill would, however, empower the prime minister, with the consent of the cabinet, to order any military officer to cease any activities deemed to contravene the Constitution to prevent a coup.
He then cited the case of South Korean MPs recently exercising their authority to scrap martial law imposed by the president.
Two coalition parties, Bhumjaithai and United Thai Nation, have announced that they will not support Prayut’s bill.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said today that the Pheu Thai party has nothing to do with the draft bill, which is an initiative of Prayut and he expressed his gratitude for his decision to withdraw it for review.
