The opposition yesterday demanded the cabinet forward to the House an executive decree postponing enforcement of key provisions of the law aimed at countering torture and enforced disappearances.
Cholnan Srikaew, leader of the main opposition Pheu Thai Party, said the House would not be adjourned until Feb 28, so the cabinet had no excuse not to send the decree for deliberation promptly.
The House, he said, expected to receive the decree this week. It postponed the enforcement of articles 22, 23, 24 and 25 of the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act for seven months.
Dr Cholnan criticised the government for the delay, saying it would deprive people of protection against abuse and harassment by law enforcement authorities. The law, published in the Royal Gazette on Oct 25 last year, was set to take effect yesterday.
However, the cabinet last week approved an executive decree postponing enforcement of Sections 22-25 to Oct 1, citing a lack of budget to buy equipment, especially police body cameras, and a shortage of skills as reasons for the delay.
Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, chairman of the Seriruamthai Party's strategic committee, said the cabinet must send the decree to the House this week or he would seek the cabinet's removal for ethical violations. He said if the Supreme Court ruled against the cabinet it could revoke the election rights of cabinet ministers.
On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said the decree would be forwarded to the House in a few days but he was not sure if it could be considered before Feb 28, the day of the last House session.
It was suggested a special assembly could be convened to examine the decree before the House's term expires on March 24. However, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he would dissolve the House early next month. Mr Wissanu said the government would not call a special House meeting after the dissolution due to complications, denying the government was stalling on the decree issue.
He said the cabinet approved a budget of 445 million baht for the Royal Thai Police (RTP) to fund the procurement of 48,568 sets of video cameras for officers. Of the total, 338.6 million baht would be spent on procuring 37,624 body cameras for suppression, prevention, traffic and investigation police; 93.5 million baht on 9,366 cameras for interrogation and detention rooms, and 12.6 million baht on 1,578 sets of dashboard cameras.