The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) of the Thai government, under the leadership of former Deputy Prime Minister General Prayut, gathered with numerous party leaders and members of parliament in front of the Parliament building, in alliance with the Thai Student People's Reform Alliance, the Royalist People's Alliance Center, and the Legal Corps organization, to jointly protest against the "Comprehensive Entertainment Venues Operation Bill." The rally aimed to pressure the government, express strong opposition, and call for the joint resistance of all sectors of society against the advancement of this bill.
Palang Pracharath Party collectively voices out, vows to stop the legalization of casinos
This protest was led by Chai Mongkol, the deputy leader of the Palang Pracharath Party and the MP for the 5th district of Sakon Nakhon Province, accompanied by deputy leader Chakra, MP for the 2nd district of Phang Nga Province, MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat Province Sutha, MP for the 1st district of Nakhon Pathom Province Kaset, MP for the 2nd district of Pattani Province Kosi, along with the chairman of the Academic Committee Tirachai and the advisor to the Policy and Academic Center Galaksiwa.
Chai Mongkol spoke at the scene, emphasizing that "the power of the people is the greatest power," and pointed out that Thai society has always opposed the establishment of casinos and comprehensive entertainment industries. He called on parliamentarians to fulfill their duties, listen to public opinion, rather than implement policies not supported by the public.
"We will do our utmost to stop this bill, both inside and outside the Parliament. If the vote fails, we will take to the streets with the people, sending a clear message to the government—do not harm the people! The government should listen to the voice of the people, not ignore public opinion and forcefully advance the gambling industry," Chai Mongkol firmly stated.
Criticizing the government's priority in developing the gambling industry, ignoring the plight of the people
In his speech, Chai Mongkol harshly criticized the government for ignoring the current economic challenges and instead prioritizing casino projects, listing the severe problems Thailand is currently facing:
Increased tariffs by the United States—Thailand's export industry is damaged, putting economic pressure;
Depressed prices of agricultural products—farmers' livelihoods are worrisome, rural economy is in trouble;
Overall economic downturn—the government should focus on formulating economic revitalization plans, rather than developing the gambling industry.
He pointed out that the government should not sacrifice the livelihood of the people for the short-term economic benefits brought by the gambling industry. The legalization of casinos may bring long-term harm to Thai society, such as gambling addiction, increased crime rates, and family breakdowns.
Palang Pracharath Party holds a press conference, questioning the interest chain behind the bill
At the 11 AM press conference, the Palang Pracharath Party officially announced its opposition to the "Comprehensive Entertainment Venues Operation Bill," and severely criticized the government for still prioritizing casino projects amidst a national economic crisis, ignoring the country's development needs.
Chai Mongkol bluntly stated: "The government's eagerness to promote this bill inevitably raises suspicions of a huge interest chain behind it. We know that it may be impossible to defeat the ruling party's majority vote in the parliament, as this may involve interest exchanges. But we must remind the government, ignoring the voice of the people will lead to serious consequences."
The Palang Pracharath Party vows to continue the struggle, prevent the passage of this bill, and ensure that Thai society is protected from the potential risks brought by the legalization of casinos. This controversy surrounding the casino bill is expected to continue fermenting in the coming weeks and may affect the next steps in Thai politics.
