Activist lodges complaint against Prawit over Hawaii trip

TUESDAY, October 11, 2016

Srisuwan Janya, secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of the Thai Constitution, lodged a petition with the Ombudsman yesterday asking for an inquiry into Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan’s ethics and whether he had followed the junta’s

Prawit, who is also a deputy prime minister and a key member of the ruling National Council for Peace and Order, should set a good example in line with the junta’s proposed 12 values, which encourage self-sufficiency, he said.

Sirsuwan called on the Ombudsman to determine whether the general’s conduct violated the Prime Minister’s Office’s Regulations on Political Office Holder’s Ethics.

Prawit and 37 security officials travelled to Hawaii at the end of last month to attend an informal meeting of Asean defence ministers at the invitation of US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter.

Srisuwan questioned why so many people had attended the informal meeting and why they had incurred unnecessary expenses.

He also criticised Prawit for saying on Monday that he was single and could see anybody he wanted after allegations were made related to a woman who joined the trip for unspecified reasons.

Srisuwan said Prawit, as a deputy prime minister, should set a good example for the public.

The petition was received by Danai Chantim, director of the Ombudsman’s Intake and Early Resolutions Bureau.