Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's failure to show up to answer questions at an impeachment hearing yesterday backfired, as her representatives were not allowed to answer on her behalf.
Ms Yingluck yesterday failed to appear at parliament to answer questions prepared by an inquiry committee set up the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).
Instead, she sent five former cabinet ministers and four of her lawyers to represent her.
The former ministers were deputy prime minister and finance minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong, former deputy prime minister and commerce minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan, former deputy commerce minister Yanyong Phuangrach, former PM's Office minister Varathep Rattanakorn and former deputy finance minister Thanusak Lek-uthai.
Ms Yingluck faces impeachment for alleged dereliction of duty in her government's rice-pledging scheme. She chaired the National Rice Policy Committee when she was premier.
Several NLA members expressed their dissatisfaction at Ms Yingluck for not turning up. Some of them, however, proposed the assembly postpone the session to wait for Ms Yingluck to show up.
NLA member Somchai Sawaengkarn said the questions were designed for Ms Yingluck to answer, not her representatives.
Norawit Lalaeng, Ms Yingluck's lawyer, told the meeting that when Ms Yingluck showed up to give her opening statements in her defence last Friday, there was no agreement that she would have to appear in person to answer the inquiry panel's questions yesterday.
NLA president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai said there was no regulation to force Ms Yingluck to appear in person to face the questions.
He also ruled that Ms Yingluck should have only one representative answer questions on her behalf.
The NLA then held a closed-door meeting to discuss its response to her decision not to show up.
The lawyers and the former ministers, who represent her, were then asked to leave the parliament chamber.
After 40 minutes, the NLA made the decision to allow Ms Yingluck's representatives back into the chamber but they were not allowed to answer any questions.
The panel then proceeded to ask the questions without anyone from Ms Yingluck's side answering.
During the questioning, Phichit Chuenban, Ms Yingluck's lawyer, asked NLA vice-president Surachai Liangboonlertchai, who chaired the meeting at the time, to record that he disagreed with the questioning process.
Mr Surachai then said the NLA gave Ms Yingluck until 6pm yesterday to show up and answer questions herself.
But her representatives told the meeting they could not contact her. Therefore, the inquiry panel proceeded with the questioning in Ms Yingluck's absence and her representatives were not allowed to speak.
During the questioning, NLA member Thaweesak Suthakawathin questioned whether the Yingluck government's rice-pledging scheme was the brainchild of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra under the slogan "Thaksin thinks, Pheu Thai acts".
NLA member Singhsuk Singhprai said the Pheu Thai Party's rice scheme had been touted as "a social contract" that could not be scrapped.
"But what is more important between the party's commitment to keeping its social contract and the losses incurred by the country,'' Gen Singhsuk questioned.
Later, Mr Pornpetch told the media that the inquiry panel reserved its right not to question Ms Yingluck's representatives as the questions were meant for Ms Yingluck to answer.
Suriyasai Katasila, a former core member of the People's Alliance for Democracy, posted on his Facebook page that Ms Yingluck had thrown away a great chance to clear her name by deciding not to show up.
Mr Suriyasai, also director of the Thai Reform Institute, said he believed even Ms Yingluck's supporters wanted her to answer the questions herself, rather than sending others to represent her.
Mr Niwattumrong said yesterday Ms Yingluck's decision not to show up would not affect her credibility or affect the voting in the impeachment case.
He said Ms Yingluck had already cleared herself of the accusations last Friday when she gave her opening statements.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday he would not tolerate any violence, whichever way the impeachment vote goes.
He said legal measures will be enforced to prevent any violent incidents.