Prime
Minister and Chief of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), Gen.
Prayuth Chan-Ocha, gave several interviews on the legal proceedings for the
rice-pledging scheme and called for those responsible to accept their civil
lawsuits.  These actions can be taken as
leading the officials and the court to be guided in certain directions.  Moreover, the use of Section 44 was also
invoked by the NCPO Chief to alter the normal legal procedures and to give
protection to officials handling the case. 
In his latest interview, Gen. Prayuth said of Mr. Boonsong Teriyapirom’s
threat to sue him that “he should wait until he gets himself out of jail
before suing me”.

Pheu
Thai Party sees that the Chief of the NCPO has complete control of the
country’s administration through the special powers under Section 44 of the
interim constitution that grants power over the Legislature and the Judiciary.  As Prime Minister and head of government, any
actions taken by him will certainly have effects on the various
organizations.  So by saying that Mr.
Boonsong should get out of jail first, even though the court case against him
is still in process, could indicate that Mr. Boonsong will be sentenced to a
jail term.  This is deemed as a violation
of the court proceeding which should be conducted with independence, fairness
and righteousness.

Through
the actions of the NCPO Chief over the rice-pledging program, it can be seen
that there are indications that those involved will be given jail terms and
will have to pay compensations for the civil liability lawsuits, when in fact
the justice system should have been changed to proceed normally and the court
should be given independence to conduct its duty.  This is the core element for the Judiciary to
be able to mete out justice to individuals. 
When the Chief of the NCPO is in a position to exercise power in both
the Legislature and the Judiciary, it is definitely inappropriate to give
indications that will lead the justice process.

Pheu
Thai Party calls on General Prayuth Chan-Ocha to cease any actions that may
cause officials to deviate from the normal law enforcement procedures that
should be carried out with honesty, correctness and righteousness, and to cease
to interfere or guide the court proceedings.

This statement is for
information.

Pheu Thai Party

September 29, 2016