Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said local authorities must take responsibility for Friday's inferno at the Mountain B pub in Chon Buri's Sattahip district that killed 15 people and injured 38.
Gen Anupong was responding to a question from Senator Wanchai Sornsiri during a parliamentary session yesterday. Mr Wanchai said the ministry cannot shirk the responsibility as Gen Anupong oversees local authorities who issued an operating licence to the pub in question.
"If authorities were strict in issuing licences and enforcing compliance with the law, the incident wouldn't have occurred," Mr Wanchai said. "We can't say that it was nothing to do with you as minister as all concerned officials are under your supervision," he said referring to Gen Anupong. "What will the minister do to prevent a repeat of this incident in the future?"
In response, Gen Anupong said that the authority to issue licences lies with local authorities and that he does not directly oversee them, adding it is the provincial governor who does.
The Mountain B pub was licensed to operate as an eatery but it had later been illegally altered and used as an entertainment place, Gen Anupong said, adding it was built in an area where entertainment venues were prohibited.
"The Sattahip district chief has been transferred and an inquiry panel has been set up to look into the matter. I am not ignoring the problem and have issued a circular to local authorities instructing them to enforce strict compliance with relevant laws," Gen Anupong said.