Thailand's former deputy House speaker passes away

BANGKOK, October 7 (TNA) - Thailand's former deputy House speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai died of lung infection in the Philippines at the age of 65. Colonel Apiwan, who was also a core leader of the red-clad United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) aligned with exiled ex-Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, passed away peacefully on October 6 after having been treated for the illness in the Philippines for months. His relatives were preparing to take his body back home for a religious rite at a temple in Bangkok's neighbouring Nonthaburi Province. In July 2014, Bangkok's Criminal Court approved an arrest warrant against the former deputy House speaker for alleged lèse majesté charges under Article 112 of the Criminal Code related to his speech on UDD stages. Colonel Apiwan graduated from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy and was then granted scholarships to do his master’s degree and doctorate degree (PhD) in civil engineering at the llinois Institute of Technology in the United States. Colonel Apiwan first entered Thai politics as a Nonthaburi MP of the New Aspiration Party in 1996 and later moved to Thaksin-led parties, including the Thai Rak Thai Party, the People Power Party and the Pheu Thai Party respectively. (TNA)