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March 2004 : Politicians Blamed on Southern Violence
Two MPs and one senator were accused of mastermind behind the violence in the three southern provinces. The cabinet approved budget on electronic identification cards or “smart card”. The study report to legalize casino was commended by the House of representatives. Cabinet reshuffle received royal endorsement.
Nationwide poor registration summed up at 8 million. The cabinet agreed to civil servants salaries raises and political party donation got tax benefit. Law on child protection was enforced. The constitutional Court voted to amend the Rajabhat Bill before submit for royal endorsement. Provincial Authority election and Nakorn Pathom bye-election were unofficially announced.
Three politicians accused on southern violence
Pattani senator Den To-meena and two Thai Rak Thai Narathivas MPs, Nadmudin Uma and Areepen Utrasin, were accused by 1 of 8 gun robberies from military camp in Narathivas as masterminds behind the incident and involvement to the turmoil in the south. Arresting is however delayed due to section 165 of the constitution stated no member of the Houses shall be arrested, detained or summoned during the session unless permission of the House is obtained.
From January 4 to March 18 several violences occurred continuously in Pattani, Yala, Narathivas and Songkla such as schools were burnt down, military camp pillage and gun fired, civilians and Buddhist monks slaughtered and 36 places set fire. Sabotage causes are identified as 1] separatism 2] terrorism and 3] drugs and illegal trade. The government declared martial law on the four provinces and approved development budget of 12 billion baht. Moreover, two ministers responsible on the problems solving, Wan muhamadnor mata, Interior minister and Defence minister Gen. Thammarak Issarangkul were transferred from the positions as well as Police Chief, San Saruthanond and Maj. Gen. Pongsak Ekbansinh.
Smart identification card
The cabinet on March 23 approved a 7,190 million baht budget on the smart card project targeting to give 64 million population multi-functions electronic identification cards in which the ministry of information technology and communication demographic data could be pooled and used by other ministries within 2006.
A smart card will basically contains general information similar to identification cards but advanced data such as income, health, tax, social security, will be external added at the sources of information. Accessibility to such a data base is granted by permission of the beholder.
Nevertheless, several sectors called for suspension of the smart card project on ground that technology system is not ready, network linkages among ministries is not completed, no enforcement on data security, abusing of human rights and last but not least, bidding process is not transparent and unnecessary of smart card due to the former magnetic tape card is not nationwide applicable.
House endorsed legalization of casino
The House of Representatives on March 18 agreed on the study report to legalize casinos in Thailand and made several notes before re-submit to the government for implementation. The study was recommended by the House financial committee that legalization of casinos has more advantages than disadvantages as follow:
Advantages: 1] Creation of employment revenue from tax and tariffs, 2] tourist attraction 3] relief authorities burden on arrest and suppress of illegal casino 4] reduce mafia and social problems due to the business is legal and controllable.
Disadvantages: 1] create social problems and 2] create temptation habits among youth therefore precautions such as strictly and transparent controlling and age-restriction should be applicable as well as measure to prevent money-laundering.
The House committee further noted that 1] the government should promote more understanding of casino concept; a comprehensive entertainment place comprises of several facilities include theater, hotels and shopping center, and 2] establishment of systematically control agency .
Royal endorse for 10 new ministers
HM the King gave royal endorsement of resignation of 12 cabinrt members and re-appointment of new 10 on March 10 for the 8th cabinet reshuffle of Thaksin administration. The new ministers are 1] Somkid Jatusripithak from deputy prime minister to minister of finance 2] Suwit Khunkitti from deputy pm to minister of natural resources and environment 3] Bhokin Balakula from deputy pm to minister of interior 4] Gen. Thammarak issarangkul from minister of defence to deputy prime minister 5] Suchart Chaovisit from minister of finance to deputy prime minister 6] Wan muhamadnor wata from minister of interior to deputy prime minister 7] Gen. Chetta Tanajaro from minister of science and technology to minister of finance 8] Sirikorn Maneerin from deputy minister of education to deputy minister of health 9] Korn Thapparansri as minister of science and technology and 10] Sutham Sangpratum as deputy minister of education.
The two ministers failed to be re-appointed are Prapat Panyachartrak former minister of natural resources and environment and gen. Chamlong Aim-changpan former deputy minister of education.
8.7 million poor registered
The government policy on registration of poor to tackle social problems and poverty within 6 years started from January 5 to February 28 totaled at 8,771,815. Eleven millions problems were recorded and the top three are debts, more than 5 million cases, land, more than 4 million cases and homelessness, more than 2 million cases.
PM Thaksin policy on debts is to transfer from underground and illegal to legalize by financial institutions. Advantage is payback period suspension and reduce of interest rate. Land shall be given to people who wanted to become farmers and housing projects will be constructed to serve homeless, unhygienic living conditions and illegal inhabitants. It is expected that 4 trillion baht or 50,000 baht per registrar will be used to tackle those problems.
Civil servants get salaries raises
The cabinet approved the ministry of finance proposal to raise salaries for civil servants including teachers, policemen, soldiers, parliamentary employees and public agencies employees at 3 percent each in all levels and positions.
Civil servants c 1-7 or equivalent will receive 2 level higher than the new adjusted rate or 8 percent therefore their salary increase will be 3 percent plus 8 percent while level 8 and above will receive extra bonus on positional allowances. The new salaries will become effective since April 1 and it is expected that total budget is 33,340 million baht.
Child protection law enforced
The Child Protection Bill B.E. 2546 is enforced on March 30 with the principles to safeguard and protect children. The law prohibits selling and consuming of alcohols and cigarettes to children under 18 years of age as well as prohibit children of such age to enter specific places where alcohols and cigarettes are sell.
Adults who allow, consent and support acts against the law are liable to 3 months imprisonment, 30,000 baht fine or both.
Constitutional Court ruled on Rajabhat bill
The Constitutional Court voted 10 to 1 to allow the parliament to call back and amend Rajabhat bill before submit for royal endorsement.
The case was submitted by the Parliamentary President, Uthai Pimchhaichon accords to section 266 whether the constitutional organs can finalize when conflict arises before submission of the bill for royal endorsement.
After the court ruled, the bill will be sent back to the senate for amendment on errors.
Tax reduction on political party contribution
The cabinet approved the draft bill on tax redemption on principle that personal contribution to political party will be deducted from annual income liable for tax calculation not exceed than 10 percent while businesses tax will be relief from net profit in public benefit expenditure category but not exceed than 2 percent of net profit.
The bill will be submitted to the council of state.
Poll results on direct election of PAO
The unofficial announcement on March 14 PAO election revealed that 47 candidates from Thai Rak Thai, 13 from Democrat, 13 from Chart Thai, 2 from Chart Pattana and 7 non-partisan won. 60 percent of eligible voters came to cast their ballots and the Election Commission will later announce the official results.
TRT won in Nakorn Phathom
Prasit Pakdipanichpong Thai Rak Thai candidate won the bye-election in Nakorn Pathom province constituency 3 with 47,720 votes. The second runner-up is Pitipong Thaibhosri from Democrat received 21,563 votes.
There were 71.81 percent of the eligible voters came to the poll.
From : http://www.fpps.or.th
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