Bangkok: The Association of Village Headmen and Subdistrict Chiefs issued a statement accepting the apology from Phanthil Nuamjerm. The "Association of Village Headmen and Subdistrict Chiefs" submitted a letter expressing their stance and accepting an apology after Phanthil-PCN issued an apology for his remarks implicating village headmen and subdistrict chiefs in drug-related activities. The Deputy Minister of Interior stated that he could not accept the apology and would await the PCN's punishment, reiterating his support for village headmen and subdistrict chiefs.
According to Thai News Agency, the Association of Village Headmen, Sub-district Doctors, Village Headman Assistants, and Village Headman's Assistants of Thailand issued a statement regarding the remarks made by MP Phanthil Nuamjerm of the People's Party during a parliamentary debate on April 30th, in which he implicated village headmen and sub-district doctors in drug-related activities. The association has since apologized and the People's Party has also issued an official apology, with Deputy Minister of Interior and Bhumjaithai Party MP Polpeera Suwannachawi participating in the press conference.
Mr. Yongyot Kaewkheaw, President of the Association of Subdistrict and Village Headmen of Thailand, stated that, as a representative of the association, he wished to clarify the position as stated in the previous statement: "As local administrators who are the refuge of the people and uphold moral principles in their work, the Association of Subdistrict and Village Headmen of Thailand gladly accepts the apology and thanks the Member of Parliament for recognizing the mistake and daring to take responsibility for their words. This sets a good standard in a democratic system, demonstrating the courage to speak out and issue a statement admitting guilt, both by the Member of Parliament themselves and their party."
The Association of Village Headmen and Sub-district Chiefs of Thailand sincerely hopes that this incident will serve as an important lesson to all esteemed members of parliament that any oversight or criticism should be based on factual information and respect the work being done at the local level. Using generalizations not only undermines the morale of those working but also creates unnecessary division in society. Although this incident has emotionally affected our members, we will use this crisis as a driving force to continue performing our duties in alleviating suffering and promoting well-being, and to stand firm as the front line in the fight against drug abuse with honesty and fairness. We will prove our true honor, which lies in the results of our work and the trust of the people in the area. We are the ones closest to the people; harsh criticism may be upsetting and disheartening, but it will allow us, the village headmen and sub-district chiefs, to always stand tall with dignity towards society an d the country. The Association of Village Headmen and Sub-district Chiefs of Thailand is ready to cooperate with all sectors, including members of parliament from all parties, in driving policies that benefit the nation.
Mr. Yongyot further stated that even in this crisis, there is an opportunity. On February 22nd, 600,000 methamphetamine pills were seized in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The drug dealers exploited loopholes in the private transportation system. Therefore, the association submitted a petition to the Prime Minister and the House of Representatives regarding penalties and oversight of private transportation companies. The association also brought individuals from these transportation companies, involved in that drug shipment, to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) for investigation. The investigation revealed they had committed similar offenses three times previously, each time seizing 600,000 pills, by opening branches along the border. We are using this crisis to inform the public that the network of village headmen and community leaders has been actively involved in combating drug trafficking. Previously, the community checkpoint network in Ayutthaya province seized 3 million methamphetamine pil ls. They also handled drug addicts who experienced violent outbursts, resulting in injuries to village headmen and threats against sub-district chiefs from drug dealers. These incidents have not been disclosed to the public. Today, we are not here to showcase our achievements, but to clarify our standards to the public. We also thank the Deputy Minister of Interior and all Members of Parliament for their support and assistance.
Furthermore, Mr. Yongyot stated that even after retirement, many village headmen still wish to continue performing their duties and requested that the Ministry of Interior provide them with uniforms to identify themselves as former village headmen, enabling them to continue their work in combating drug trafficking without compensation.
Meanwhile, Mr. Koravee Prisnanantakul, MP for Ang Thong and Chairman of the Government Whip, stated that he had been contacted by associations of village headmen and community leaders from across the country who had informed fellow MPs from the Bhumjaithai Party and other parties about the impact of last week's parliamentary debate. This had caused resentment, unease, and anger in some individuals. He understands the need to maintain personal dignity, which led to this expression of their stance and the issuance of the statement.
Mr. Koravee affirmed that they understand the crucial role of those working closely on the front lines to alleviate suffering and promote well-being. Any actions that have been mentioned that have hurt the feelings of those performing this work naturally cause resentment. Therefore, they are expressing their stance here in Parliament. He also expressed his gratitude to the chairman of the Association of Subdistrict Chiefs and Village Heads, whose initial statement earlier was that "the Subdistrict Chiefs and Village Heads accept the apology."
However, it is up to the party and the MPs to decide how to proceed. I believe that the apologies issued by the members of the legislature are invalid, and I understand that the party has formed a committee. I think the village headmen should follow up on the outcome of this investigation. After receiving the official letter, I will hold a meeting of the government whips to inform representatives from all parties involved about the incident. I will also remind government members to be more cautious in their debates and discussions on various issues. This incident serves as an important lesson for all MPs, regardless of their party affiliation, in their duties in the House of Representatives and during debates. It highlights the importance of careful consideration of words and actions that can harm others-not just the village headmen, but across all organizations. If actions cause emotional distress or false accusations that damage someone's reputation, this incident should serve as a reminder to all political parties and MPs in parliament.
Meanwhile, Mr. Polpeera Suwannachawi, Deputy Minister of Interior, stated that the Ministry of Interior is not complacent and has always worked well with the associations of village headmen and sub-district chiefs nationwide. He emphasized that everyone is a vital component of the Ministry of Interior and the government in ensuring the well-being of the people. Regarding the incident in the parliamentary chamber, he said they were deeply disturbed because the conduct of a Member of Parliament and the disrespect shown towards a government official performing duties for the public were unacceptable to them as Deputy Minister of Interior and MPs from the Bhumjaithai Party. He added that apologies and measures have been issued by the political party and the MPs involved, and they are awaiting the outcome of these measures and penalties. However, he affirmed that the Ministry of Interior stands by its support for village headmen and sub-district chiefs in all aspects and will consider this matter urgently, as the most important thing is to restore morale, honor, and dignity to all village headmen across the country.