The opposition claims that General General General Prayuth purposely changed his oath of office during the inauguration of the Cabinet on 16 July, as he read his oath from a prepared note, instead of reciting the Cabinet Secretariat's speech. According to Dr. Cholnan believes the opposition that General Prayuth has made a mistake in doing so by violating the Code of Ethics of the Charter by changing the text of his oath of office.
The opposition has therefore submitted an urgent request for a parliamentary debate to berate Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha over the controversy over his oath of office, after missing the house meetings for the second time to explain the matter.
The seven-party opposition agreed together to submit the motion to the President of Parliament, Mr. Chuan Leekpai, later this week. The general debate is expected to open in the next week, said the deputy of the Pheu Thai party, Mr. Cholnan Srikaew to the Bangkok Post.
Adoption of the motion, to be submitted under section 152 of the Constitution, requires the approval of one-tenth of Parliament or 50 Members.
Dr. Cholnan Srikaev believes that Prime Minister Prayuth deliberately changed the important text of his oath of office, or omitted the last sentence.
"We do not think it was a case of negligence by Prayuth. It may have been the Prime Minister's intention to avoid the significant expressions in the oath, "he told the Bangkok Post.
General Prayuth is accused of having omitted the last and important sentence of the oath. In it, the Prime Minister actually gives his promise to accept the Constitution and to comply with it.
Dr. Cholnan said that the omission of the important text shows that General Prayuth does not believe in democratic rule, which at the same time constitutes a gross violation of the law.
General Prayuth is in the crossfire of discussions after two missing house sessions last week and Wednesday, in which Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, secretary-general of the Future Forward Party, asked him to explain the issue of his controversial oath of office to the House. General Prayuth had also missed the home meeting last week by visiting the south.
An unspecified political source said the opposition used the debate, which will not have a vote just to pressure the prime minister, to explain the issue.
However, General Prayuth has so far refused to give a reason for his absence on Wednesday. Instead, he insisted that he had always treated Parliament with respect.
He said that the problem with his submission of the oath of office has already reached the Ombudsman, who will probably forward it to the Constitutional Court. The Prime Minister said further that people should allow the trial to take its course.
"Of course I do not know how the petition will end. Please do not let us use that to attack me politically, "General Prayuth said, adding that he was ready to be investigated over the saga.
President Chuan said that General Prayuth is expected to provide the house with the necessary answers to the questions. If, for some reason, he could not attend or explain any questions, he should at least give an explanation for his absence, Mr. Chuan added.
Previously, activist Srisuwan Janya had also asked the Ombudsman to refer the matter to the Constitutional Court or the Administrative Court for a decision on the legitimacy of the government in the face of General Prayuth's incomplete oath.
Srisuwan also asked the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate General Prayuth and his cabinet for the same matter.
Dr. Cholnan warned that a ruling by the Administrative Tribunal against General Prayuth could also mean that the laws passed by ministers who also attended the swearing-in ceremony were annulled.
He said the only way out was to obtain a royal pardon and apply for royal permission to renew the oath.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam told the media on Wednesday (14 August) that ultimately the Constitutional Court has final jurisdiction over the matter.
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Mr Piyabutr said that the ministers themselves should find a solution instead of submitting the decision to the independent agencies (a reference to the Ombudsman and dthe Constitutional Court). He said the opposition had no intention of ousting the prime minister in this matter.
Sources: kleinezeitung.de, thailand tip, bangkok post
