The Thai Constitution Protection Association on June 3 issued a statement calling on Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai to step down before the Constitutional Court makes a verdict on the scandal related to his wife’s failure to declare her stockholdings.
Bangkok (VNA) - The ThaiConstitution Protection Association on June 3 issued a statement calling on ForeignMinister Don Pramudwinai to step down before the Constitutional Court makes averdict on the scandal related to his wife’s failure to declare her stockholdings.
Pressure is increasing on Don after the Election Commission (EC) of Thailand reportedly found he did not meet theministerial qualifications required by the Constitution.
The EC report, which said that Don breached the law due to his wife Narirat’s failure to declare herstockholdings, came out on May 31.
In the statement, Srisuwan Janya,Secretary-General of the Thai Constitution Protection Association, said: “Ithas happened to many ministers and politicians in the past and the publicdemanded that they resign to prevent a conflict of interest as well as toprotect the image of Thai politics.”
Somsak Prisananantakul, a seniorpolitician in the Chart Thai Pattana Party, said Don should suspend himselffrom office to pave the way for the government leader, Prime Minister PrayutChan-o-cha, to be able to press on with national reforms.
Earlier, the EC reportedly voted 3-2 todisqualify Don from holding his position based on the undeclared assets. The ECwill next petition the Constitutional Court for a final verdict on whether Donshould be dismissed from his present job.
The EC made the decision after findingthat Don’s wife had failed to declare holdings of more than a 5-per-cent stakein a company within 30 days of Don joining the Cabinet.
Article 187 of the current Constitutionprohibits ministers, their spouses and children under the legal age of 20 yearsold from benefiting from stock holdings beyond legal limits.
They must declare their stock holdingsto the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and transfer them to legallyauthorised people to manage them without their involvement.-VNA
The Thai government has reported its progress in dealing with illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, to representatives of the European Union (EU), emphasizing the strict enforcement of laws.
Bangkok police made coordinated raids on Buddhist temples around Thailand and arrested senior monks for alleged embezzlement, including members of the Sangha Supreme Council.
Thailand’s space research agency has announced its plan to send durian to space by July, as part of a project to produce Thai food to serve future space travel, according to BBC.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai (Photo: AFP/VNA)
