BANGKOK — As Thailand’s interim Cabinet ministers moved into their offices in the Government House today, questions about the recent 67 million baht renovation of the Cabinet room continue to loom large.

News outlets and social media users are demanding answers about the pricey sound equipment, which was installed during the recent renovation of the Government House in Bangkok.

Thailand’s new Cabinet, a third of who are military men, were appointed by coup leader and Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha last week and moved in to their offices in the Government House today. 

Critics are focusing on the microphones, which were purchased by Thai officials for at least 145,000 baht each according to a number of media reports, though an analysis by Matichon placed the figure at 157,000 baht per piece. Officials said they bought a total of 192 microphones for the Cabinet meetings.

Suspicions were further raised after the Thai supplier of the microphones, Bosch, changed the price of the equipment from 99,000 baht to 199,000 baht several days after the criticism started to mount. 

Critics of the 22 May military coup are using the scandal to ridicule Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth, who has repeatedly said his military regime will banish government corruption.

Minister of the Prime Minister's Office Panadda Diskul initially defended the expensive audio system, arguing that the high-tech equipment is used by the White House and comes with anti-wiretapping devices.

Mr. Panadda later backtracked and distanced himself from the purchases; he now claims that neither he nor the military junta was responsible for buying the microphones, blaming the decision on Government House officials instead.

Meanwhile, Tuang Antachai, a member of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), said today that he believes the microphone scandal was disseminated by "individuals with ill intention" who want to discredit the government.

Mr. Tuang denied reports of the microphones' price tags, but refused to give a specific price. 

"I don't want them to [spread] information that is not factual," Mr. Tuang said. "If an inquiry finds that the government has indeed done what the allegation says, I as an NLA member am willing to inspect the government's spending in order to promote transparency."

BANGKOK — The Royal Thai Air Force is investigating a video of a naked woman entertaining air force officers inside a military base, a spokesperson said today.

The video, which has been widely shared on social media, shows the nude woman singing and teasing men in Royal Thai Air Force uniforms at a party.

Air Marshal Monthon Satchakorn, a spokesperson for the air force, admitted today that the clip was likely filmed at a "recent" party that took place inside an air force base. 

The spokesperson did not say when the party took place or who attended, but said the officers seen in the video will be punished in accordance with air force rules, which prohibit hosting parties with inappropriate or nude acts on military property. 

"The Air Force has been inspecting and regulating the use of our facilities and the discipline of our force," AM Monthon said, "But I admit that there has been some failure in terms of discipline. The commanders of their respective units will urgently investigate the matter."

He added, "The officers' actions have damaged the reputation of the armed forces in general."

Thailand’s armed forces have been the source of several scandals in recent months. In August, an army captain allegedly brought troops under his command to beat nightclub security guards after they told him not to smoke inside the establishment. 

In addition, several armed servicemen were arrested earlier this year for allegedly serving as security guards for the anti-government movement that carried out six months of political protests prior to the 22 May military coup.

BANGKOK — Thailand’s new Cabinet ministers moved into their offices inside the newly-renovated Government House this morning on a date considered auspicious by many Thais.

The day, 9/9/2014, is considered lucky because the Thai word for “nine” sounds similar to the Thai word for “progress.”

Upon arriving at the Government House this morning, junta chairman and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha made the rounds to several different shrines and altars in the compound to pray for blessings.

Over 300 security officers patrolled the area, assisted by several bomb sniffing dogs. Members of the press were not allowed inside the main buildings of the complex.

After the junta dissolved the former government in May, the Government House went under several months of renovation during which plants and furniture were realigned in accordance with the principles of feng shui. The renovation effort was briefly stalled after construction staff reported encountering ‘spirits’ inside one of the buildings.

New technological equipment, including nearly two hundred microphones costing 145,000 baht each, were are also installed during the renovation.

Amphon Kittiamphon, secretary-general of the Cabinet, said Gen. Prayuth and his Cabinet will be briefed on administrative and procedural issues today, such as how to work with the interim government’s National Legislative Assembly (NLA).

The junta’s governing body, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), of which Gen. Prayuth is still the chairman, will also brief the Cabinet about its achievements over the past three months, Mr. Amphon said.

Today marks the official ascension to near-absolute power by Gen. Prayuth, who is also commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army in addition to Prime Minister and NCPO chairman. Under the 2014 interim consitution, Gen. Prayuth retains the authority to unilaterally intervene in government affairs through his position as leader of the NPCO.

Gen. Prayuth is the first individual to command such concentrated power over Thailand’s national administration since 1971, when Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn installed himself as Prime Minister, chairman of Revolutionary Council, and commander of the armed forces.

Officials say Gen. Prayuth will retain his post as army chief until his retirement in October.

Col. Sirichan Ngathong, a spokesperson of the NCPO, said yesterday that Gen. Prayuth’s new roles will not cause any conflicts of interest.

“No matter which hat the NCPO chairman wears, he will always uphold the interest of the greater good,” said Col. Sirichan.

BANGKOK — Football fans from different clubs have banded together to call upon Thailand’s military junta to dismiss the head of the national football association, citing his alleged corruption.

The group, called "Unite To Liberate Thai Football," submitted a petition with over 10,000 signatures to the junta’s National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) at the Government House today.

The petition asked the junta to remove Worawi Makudi, aka Bang Yee, from his position as chairman of the Thai Football Association. 

Mongkol Santikul, a representative of the "Unite To Liberate Thai Football" network, accused Mr. Worawi of damaging the sport and hindering the Thai National Football team for years. Mr. Worawi has held the position since 2001. 

"Thai football fans have had to endure the miserable performance of the Thai National Football team," Mr. Mongkol said. "And the referees that have made wrong judgments in the past… they have not been punished."

According to Mr. Mongkol, Mr. Worawi also influenced executives of Thai Premier League (TPL) to wrongfully ban or fine football clubs based on favoritism.

“It's unfair,” Mr. Mongkol said. “It has no standard. It has caused a division among Thai football fans.”

Mr. Mongkol also suggested that Mr. Worawi's position as an executive of the former ruling Pheu Thai Party may have facilitated his corrupt practices.  

The controversial chief was re-elected to his post last year in an election that his opponent claimed was rigged. 

The "Unite To Liberate Thai Football" group consists of supporters from several football clubs in Thailand, including Chonburi FC, Singh Tarau, PTT Rayong, and Bangkok United. 

"We Thai football fans hope that the NCPO will inspect and improve the management of the Thai Football Association, which is a state agency, so that it is transparency and fair to all sides," Mr. Mongkol said.

The NCPO says it has received hundreds of petitions since it staged a coup against the elected government on 22 May. The demands have ranged from lowering expensive food prices to punishing convicted rapists with the death penalty. 

BANGKOK — Football fans from different clubs have banded together to call upon Thailand’s military junta to dismiss the head of the national football association, citing his alleged corruption.

The group, called "Unite To Liberate Thai Football," submitted a petition with over 10,000 signatures to the junta’s National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) at the Government House today.

The petition asked the junta to remove Worawi Makudi, aka Bang Yee, from his position as chairman of the Thai Football Association. 

Mongkol Santikul, a representative of the "Unite To Liberate Thai Football" network, accused Mr. Worawi of damaging the sport and hindering the Thai National Football team for years. Mr. Worawi has held the position since 2001. 

"Thai football fans have had to endure the miserable performance of the Thai National Football team," Mr. Mongkol said. "And the referees that have made wrong judgments in the past… they have not been punished."

According to Mr. Mongkol, Mr. Worawi also influenced executives of Thai Premier League (TPL) to wrongfully ban or fine football clubs based on favoritism.

“It's unfair,” Mr. Mongkol said. “It has no standard. It has caused a division among Thai football fans.”

Mr. Mongkol also suggested that Mr. Worawi's position as an executive of the former ruling Pheu Thai Party may have facilitated his corrupt practices.  

The controversial chief was re-elected to his post last year in an election that his opponent claimed was rigged. 

The "Unite To Liberate Thai Football" group consists of supporters from several football clubs in Thailand, including Chonburi FC, Singh Tarau, PTT Rayong, and Bangkok United. 

"We Thai football fans hope that the NCPO will inspect and improve the management of the Thai Football Association, which is a state agency, so that it is transparency and fair to all sides," Mr. Mongkol said.

The NCPO says it has received hundreds of petitions since it staged a coup against the elected government on 22 May. The demands have ranged from lowering expensive food prices to punishing convicted rapists with the death penalty.