PM warns of Section 157 over Si Khiew, Rama II probe
PM Anutin presses for swift probes into the Si Khiew and Rama II crane collapses, warning officials who fail to act could face Section 157 charges
On January 17, 2026, at 10.00am, at the fresh market in Tha Sae Municipality, Tha Sae district, Chumphon, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul spoke about the crane collapse cases in Si Khiew and on Rama II Road, warning that anyone who fails to carry out orders could face penalties under Section 157.
He also referred to claims that there was an attempt to turn the issue into politics, and addressed a separate incident earlier that morning (January 17) in which the inbound lane of Rama II Road collapsed into a hole, causing a pickup truck to fall in.
Anutin said he understood the collapse occurred in a municipal area and involved a large volume of water from a burst water pipe. He said the municipality must urgently fix the problem. He added that the incident was not related to faulty design or incorrect construction methods, but was due to negligence by workers, and any damage would have to be compensated.
Asked about public concerns that “Rama II again” could further undermine confidence in using the route, Anutin said the most worrying issue is structural safety. As he had explained previously, he said the recent crane-related incidents did not stem from the concrete structure itself, but from lifting operations that could have been prevented—yet were not.
He said that when incidents recur, pursuing only civil contract provisions often does not achieve results. That was why the government had said it must use administrative measures, such as ordering a halt to construction or cancelling contracts, which he described as a legal matter.
He said that if he simply said it was up to the agencies, he would be criticised for not pressuring them; but if he pressured agencies, he would be criticised for doing so. He added that if the government used administrative authority, critics would ask why it did not rely on contractual measures instead.
“You can’t please everyone. There are those who want to make this political, even though it isn’t. It’s an engineering matter,” he said.
Anutin said the government had already ordered agencies to use administrative authority, and those who received the orders must comply. He said the prime minister himself cannot sign contract cancellations directly; the government gives the order and the responsible parties must act. If officials fail to do so, they could face Section 157 if they are civil servants.
Asked whether the Transport Ministry had reported progress on contract-related steps, Anutin said there are procedures that must be followed.
