Thai protests outside parliament after PM survives vote

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Thai protests outside parliament after PM survives vote

 

Pro-democracy protesters hold placards during a rally after Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and nine ministers survived no-confidence debates, outside the Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, February 20, 2021. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Thailand's parliament after Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and nine ministers survived a parliamentary no-confidence motion on Saturday after a four-day censure debate.

 

"It was a disappointment, but expected," protest leader Attapon Buapat said.

 

Over 1,000 protesters rallied outside the parliament gates. Organisers gave assurances the protest would not turn violent.

 

"We want a peaceful protest," protest leader Panusaya "Rung" Sithijirawattanakul told reporters after speaking to the police.

"There is no reason for police to break up this demonstration."

 

Earlier, lawmakers voted in favour of Prayuth and other ministers, which had been widely expected.

 

Opposition lawmakers have taken aim at what they say is a slow government roll-out of the coronavirus vaccine and at its economic policies, vowing to continue investigating.

 

"We've opened a wound and now will pour salt on it," Pita Limjaroenrat, head of the Move Forward Party told reporters after the vote.

 

Prayuth, a former chief of the armed forces, overthrew an elected prime minister in 2014 and stayed in office after a 2019 election that his rivals said was badly flawed.

 

The government has said the elections were free and fair.

 

Prayuth was expected to survive Saturday's vote due to his coalition government's majority in the lower house.

 

"The debate went well, but the government must continue its work," Prayuth said in a podcast after the vote. "I would like to ask all Thais to work together to bring the country forward."

 

The no-confidence motion came as pro-democracy protests returned after a lull brought on by a second outbreak of COVID-19.

 

"Some 4,000 officers have been prepared," police deputy spokesman Kissana Pattanacharoen said, adding that the rallies were violating an emergency decree to control the coronavirus outbreak. "Police duty is to maintain order," he said when asked if there would be use of force.

 

Earlier this month, protesters demanding the release of activists scuffled with police.

 

Youth-led protests last year reached hundreds of thousands, occupying major commercial intersections in Bangkok and spreading to university campuses across the country.

 

"It's a critical moment in Thailand. We cannot wait, we don't want people to think this is just on Twitter or Facebook," 20-year-old student Ngamluk Montim told Reuters. "We are coming out to raise our voice. This is just the start."

 

(Reporting by Matthew Tostevin, Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by William Mallard and Ros Russell)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-02-21

 

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[rooster59]

PM, all ministers survive no-confidence votes

Paphamon Arayasukawat

 

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The lower house has made a no-confidence vote after the end of censure debate, with the Prime Minister and other ministers surviving the no-confidence motion.

 

No-confidence motion against the Prime Minister and nine ministers have been dismissed in a vote casted this morning, following the end of censure debate last night, with no motion receiving enough votes in favor.

 

House Speaker Chuan Leekpai said at least 244 confident or no-confident votes must be reached to determine the status of ministers in question.

 

From the votes, the Prime Minister and nine ministers criticized in the censure debate received more than 244 confident votes, with the scores as follows;

 

- 272 confident votes for Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha.

- 274 confident votes for Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan.

- 275 confident votes for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul.

- 268 confident votes for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit.

- 272 confident votes for Minister of Interior Gen Anupong Paochinda.

- 258 confident votes for Minster of Education Nataphol Teepsuwan.

- 263 confident votes for Minister of Labour Suchat Chomklin.

- 268 confident votes for Minister of Transport Saksayam Chidchob.

- 272 confident votes for Deputy Minister of Interior Nipon Bunyamanee.

- 274 confident votes for Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Capt Thamanat Prompow.

 

The Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has thanked members of the media for their coverage of the censure debate, saying the government will take useful information presented in the debate for further actions, while asking for love and unity to return to the country.

 

As government leader, the Prime Minister said he still has not considered whether to reshuffle the cabinet, which will eventually be made at the right time based on each minister’s performance.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-02-21

 

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