Lawyer testifies before panel over claims against Pheu Thai, Thaksin
OAG summons all three parties to testify after charter court asks why it has not responded to the lawyer’s many complaints
The lawyer who called on the Constitutional Court to dissolve the Pheu Thai Party for allegedly trying to undermine the monarchy testified before a special committee on Thursday.
Thirayuth Suwankesorn was told to testify after the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) was asked by the court to explain how it had handled Thirayuth’s complaints.
The lawyer is also claiming that the ruling party has violated the charter by allowing former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to have a dominating influence over its policies.
Initially, Thirayuth filed six complaints with the OAG against Pheu Thai and Thaksin, alleging their actions were detrimental to the democratic ruling system with the King as head of state.
After the OAG failed to respond to the complaints, Thirayuth took them directly to the Constitutional Court.
On October 25, the court asked the OAG to explain how it handled Thirayuth’s complaints and how much evidence it had gathered so far. The OAG has until Friday to respond.
On October 27, the OAG set up a special committee to draft its response to the court.
The committee then summoned Thirayuth, Pheu Thai representatives and Thaksin to testify before it sends its response to the court.
PM’s Office Minister Chusak Sirinil appeared in front of the OAG panel on behalf of Pheu Thai on Thursday, but Thaksin has not yet met the panel, OAG sources said.
The OAG is asking the court for permission to delay its response until next Monday pending testimony from all three parties, a source said.
The source added that the OAG did not proceed with Thirayuth’s complaints due to two reasons. Firstly, OAG investigators did not find anything Pheu Thai or Thaksin may have done that undermined the constitutional monarchy, and secondly, it believes it is up to the Election Commission to decide if Thaksin was dominating the ruling party.
In his complaint with the charter court, Thirayuth had listed six incidents that he alleges aim to dismantle democracy, namely:
- Thaksin’s alleged use of the Pheu Thai Party as a tool with which to persuade the government through the Justice Ministry, the Corrections Department and the Police General Hospital to spare him from serving a single day of his jail sentence
- Alleged collusion between Thaksin and Cambodia’s former PM Hun Sen over the sharing of natural gas and marine resources in overlapping maritime areas in a way that benefits Cambodia
- Thaksin’s allegedly dominant role in the formation of the Pheu Thai-led coalition and the appointment of his daughter as prime minister
- Thaksin’s alleged role in Pheu Thai and People’s Party’s collaboration in trying to amend the Constitution
- Thaksin’s alleged role in excluding Palang Pracharath Party from the coalition government
- Thaksin’s alleged coercion of the Pheu Thai Party to adopt his August 22 policy vision as its policy.
