TUESDAY, March 19, 2024
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Education, DES portfolios never belonged to yellow-shirts: Prawit

Education, DES portfolios never belonged to yellow-shirts: Prawit

The Education and Digital Economy and Society (DES) ministries do not belong to the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan announced on Thursday.

Education Minister Nattapol Teepsuwan and DES Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta, both from the ruling Palang Pracharath Party, stand to lose their jobs after being sentenced by court for their role in yellow-shirt PDRC-led protests that ousted the Yingluck Shinawatra government in 2014.
Prawit, who is also Palang Pracharath leader, said it is necessary to reshuffle the Cabinet, adding he has yet to discuss the issue with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
“The Education and DES portfolios belong to Palang Pracharath, not PDRC because Nattapol and Buddhipongse are members of the Palang Pracharath Party,” he said, adding that the final decision on whether they lose their jobs depends on Prayut.
He also dismissed questions about whether Deputy Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao and Deputy Labour Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat will succeed the two ministers facing the chop.
The Criminal Court found Buddhipongse, Nattaphol and Deputy Transport Minister Thaworn Senneam from the Democrat Party guilty of insurrection, criminal association, illegal assembly and obstructing voters among other charges between November 2013 and May 2014.
Buddhipongse was sentenced to seven years, Nattaphol to seven years and four months, while Thaworn was given four years.

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