Seri Ruam Thai party leader Pol Gen Seripisut Temiyavet was dealt a big blow this afternoon (Friday) by parliament president Chuan Leekpai, who ruled that the former police chief had already exercised his right to speak in parliamentary debate yesterday.
Late on Thursday night, Seripisut was ordered out of the chamber, where the debate on the government’s policy statement was taking place, after he refused to withdraw the accusation he made against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
During the debate last night, the Seri Ruam Thai party leader said he was asked by several constituents to tell the Prime Minister that his premiership post was not arrived at gracefully because it was acquired through election fraud. He also accused the Prime Minister of being the de facto leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee.
The question of whether Seripisut could join the debate again today was raised with Mr. Chuan by Pheu Thai MP Chulapant Amornvivat of Chiang Rai province.
Chuan reportedly said that the chair of the meeting last night, Mr. Pornpetch Wikchitcholchai, had already made the ruling.
However, Seripisut argued that he was given 45 minutes to speak on three issues and he managed to cover just one issue before he was interrupted by protests followed by a 10-minute break ordered by the parliament vice president.
When the meeting resumed, however, Seripisut said he was asked to withdraw his accusation against the Prime Minister, but he declined to do so and was ordered out of the meeting, leaving two remaining issues about which he would like to speak.
“With due respect, the issue was closed. I apologize if it caused disappointment,” said Mr. Chuan in response to Seripisut’s enquiry.
Still defiant, the former police chief said he would explore legal channels to fight his case.
Earlier in the morning, he told the media that he still had enough ammunition to fire at the government, particularly the Prime Minister.
