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February 2003 : Cabinet Reshuffle
The King endorsed five cabinet reshuffle submitted by the Prime Minister. The cabinet approved draft regulations for hiring thirty minister assistants for 20 ministries. The senate finalized 4 contenders to fill vacant Constitutional judges while the Constitutional Court ruled NCCC’s verdict on Veerapol case was final. The House passed the bill on lethal injection as method of execution.
Royal endorsed for cabinet reshuffle
His Majesty the King endorsed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra cabinet reshuffle on February 8 as follow:
- Mr. Prommin Lertsuridej from deputy prime minister to minister of energy.
- Mr. Somkid Jatusripitak from finance minister to deputy prime minister.
- Mr. Suchart Jaovisidha from deputy finance minister to finance minister.
- Mr. Pongthep Thepkanchana from energy minister to justice minister.
- Mr. Purachai Piumsombun from justice minister to deputy prime minister.
The prime minister gave reason for this reshuffle that the new positions will better serve the public.
Cabinet approved minister assistants
The cabinet on February 4 approved a draft regulation for appointing 30 ministers assistants; 20 to work in 20 ministries and 10 to be assigned as the prime minister deems appropriate. The minister assistant’s tenure is one year and their benefit is 63,000 baht salary and 300 baht per diem meeting.
The minister assistants duties are:
- Co-ordinating between the prime minister and office to the ministers and offices.
- To represent the minister in receiving complaints and comments on the ministerial policies.
- To represent the minister in negotiations unless legally binding.
- To represent the minister in administrative meeting including express opinion but can not vote on behalf of the minister.
- Coordinating between the minister and civil servants and politicians.
- Performing the minister’s state and social functions unless prohibiting by the regulations.
- Performing other duties as assigned.
The minister assistant should be over 35 years old and hold at least a bachelor degree. A person from state sector background should hold a position at least a director and not being MPs, senators or local administrative members and not being disqualified in accords to section 109 of the Constitution.
Each minister shall submit their assistant names to the prime minister for approval while application directly to the PM secretariat office is until March 7. All appointments should be completed within 30 days.
4 Constitutional judges voted
The Senate picked 1. Mr. Manit Wittayatem, former Customs Dept. chief, 2. Mr. Suthi Suthisomboon, former PM secretariat, 3. Mrs. Saowanee Assawaroj, Thammasart law faculty lecturer and 4. Pol. Gen. Suwan Suwanweacho, former PM advisor, to fill 4 vacant seats in the Constitutional Court. The first three represent law disciplinary and the fourth, political science.
There were 8 contenders selected from the two disciplinary, 2 from political science and 6 from law, to be voted by the senate.
Court backs NCCC on Veerapol case
The Constitutional Court voted 8 to 5 to back NCCC’s rule on Veerapol Duangsoongnern case therefore Mr. Veerapol has to quit his current position as the inspector of the PM office and return his salary received since he left office of the Public Relation Department.
The case was brought to the Court by National Counter Corruption Commission after the sub-committee of the civil service commission overruled that Mr. Veerapol did not commit a serious disciplinary offence in purchasing a computer when he was the director general of the Public Relation Department in 2001 and he was later appointed to the inspector.
After Mr. Veerapol case was overruled by the sub-committee, the NCCC asked the Constitutional Court to rule on which agency should get the final say in accord to section 266 of the Constitution. The Court deliberated and ruled in favor of NCCC.
The House passed lethal injection bill
The House of Reps unanimously voted 353 to approve the amendment of the criminal code act on February 19 which has significant issue on the changing method of execution from shooting to lethal injection. The bill would be submitted to the Senate for deliberation.
From : http://www.fpps.or.th
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