Bangkok: The House Committee on State Security convened to discuss the escalating situation on the Thai-Cambodian border. Chaired by Mr. Rangsiman Rome, the meeting addressed the ongoing conflict that has significant implications for both the economy and society. Among the topics was the suppression of the call center gang and the JBC dialogue mechanism, and the controversial audio clip of a conversation between the Prime Minister and Hun Sen, President of the Cambodian Senate.
According to Thai News Agency, the committee exercised its power to summon several key figures to provide statements or express opinions. Among those summoned were Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, who was ordered to cease her duties as Prime Minister, and Mr. Phumtham Vejjayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Prime Minister. Mr. Phumtham, however, assigned the Secretary-General of the National Security Council to attend in his place. The absence of direct representatives from these offices raised concerns about the level of cooperation with the committee.
The meeting highlighted the complexities of using the Summoning Power Act, as Mr. Chutipong Pipoppinyo pointed out the lack of direct responses from key officials. He questioned the reasons behind the absence of key figures like Mr. Phumtham and Ms. Paethongtarn, asking whether they would eventually need to explain their absence before the House of Representatives.
The committee faced challenges in ensuring participation, as noted by Mr. Prayut Siripanich of the Pheu Thai Party, who emphasized the importance of following legal protocols when assigning duties. Concerns were raised about the possibility of lawsuits if the summoning process was not handled appropriately, with Mr. Sutham Saengprathum cautioning against misunderstandings that could lead to legal challenges.
The urgency of the situation was underscored when Mr. Rasm Chaleechan excused himself from the meeting to attend an urgent session at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the Thai-Cambodian conflict. The committee ultimately resolved to continue deliberations on the border conflict, calling for consistent attendance from all relevant parties in future meetings.