Thailand: Govt team to check for royal slurs

• The coalition government has formed a legal team to monitor the upcoming censure debate for inappropriate references to the monarchy, said a key government figure on 1 Feb 21.
• He said the legal team will also gather false allegations made during the debate against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and cabinet ministers and lodge complaints with police.
• He said the move is triggered by the opposition’s no-confidence motion which contains serious accusations against the government as well as wording that refers to the monarchy.
• The opposition camp has turned a deaf ear to calls from concerned parties for it to revise the wording in the motion, he noted.
• Picharn Chaopattanwong, a list-MP of the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) and an opposition whip, on 1 Feb 21 defended the no-confidence motion, saying it focused on the roles of Gen Prayut and nine cabinet ministers, not the higher institution as alleged by the government.
• He added that even House Speaker Chuan Leekpai insisted the motion did not violate House regulations.
• The motion, which was lodged on 25 Jan 21, has yet to be put on the House agenda, though the debate is tentatively scheduled to take place from 16-19 Feb 21.

External Link : https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2060851/govt-team-to-check-for-royal-slurs