NLA mulls royal security bill

NLA mulls royal security bill

The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) yesterday agreed in principle on a bill to amend the law on providing security to royalty but put off consideration of another bill on debt collection.

National Council for Peace and Order chief Prayuth Chanocha’s brother, Lt Gen Preecha, takes the floor as the National Legislative Assembly meets to discuss 10 bills that Gen Prayuth proposed for consideration. Chanat Katanyu

With two abstentions, the NLA voted 180 to 1 to pass the royal security provision bill in its first reading and agreed to set up a 15-member panel to review the wording of the draft to incorporate into the bill remarks made by the NLA members at yesterday's meeting. It will bring the bill back for its second reading in seven days.

Prior to the vote, the NLA debated why the law on the provision of security measures for Their Majesties the King and Queen, the heir to the throne, the regent, other members of the royal family, royal representatives, and royal guests should be amended.

Presenting the bill to the NLA, Gen Surasak Kanchanarat, permanent defence secretary, said the act on royal security needed updating since it resembled a Prime Minister's Office regulation, making it lack unity in terms of principles and with different agencies providing royal security measures.

NLA member Gen Oud Buangbon said the bill failed to clearly state whether privy councillors and "commoners" would be provided with security measures as well.

NLA member Wallop Tungkananurak questioned the scope of the chief aide-de-camp general's authority in providing security to royalty, saying the official's authority might overlap with that of the committee.

NLA president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai said all observations made by the NLA members about the bill will be deliberated later.

After voting to pass the bill, the NLA moved on to the bill governing debt collection. The bill seeks to establish fair practices in debt collection because unsavoury methods have been used by debt collectors.

However, NLA whips put off consideration of the bill reasoning it was likely to duplicate parts of several existing laws such as the Criminal Code and the financial institutions law.

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