"Lawyer Aun" sharply condemns the government for allowing oil refining fees to become exorbitantly high, appealing to the Ombudsman and preparing to bring the case to the Constitutional Court to rule on violations of citizens' rights.
On 7 Apr 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Phattharapong Suphakorn, known as “Lawyer Aun Buriram,” submitted a complaint to the Ombudsman, requesting the matter be referred to the Constitutional Court. He alleges the government has mismanaged oil prices by allowing refining fees to surge unrealistically, worsening citizens' burdens and clearly violating the constitution. Speaking as a representative of the people affected, he criticized the administration under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and the energy agencies for permitting abnormal increases in oil prices.
Mr. Phattharapong added that on 26 Mar 2026 GMT+7, refining fees were around 3 baht per liter, but by 7 Apr 2026 GMT+7, they had jumped to 15-16 baht per liter. The government used old oil stockpiles purchased at low cost before the war to calculate prices during wartime conditions by adding inflated refining fees. This practice exploits and violates citizens' rights under Articles 41 and 61 of the constitution, which obligate the state to directly protect consumers.
Lawyer Aun also criticized the Prime Minister's stance that forcing a reduction in refining fees might disrupt refinery operations, escalating problems. He countered that most refineries are state-owned, with the main five or six refineries primarily owned by PTT and the Ministry of Finance holding significant shares. If the Prime Minister does not instruct these state-controlled entities, who else can he rely on? Speaking this way amounts to siding with corporate interests and turning his back on struggling citizens.