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August 2007 : Election Date on Dec 23
The 2007 Constitution sailed through the referendum making December 23, 2007 an election date.
After 10 months Surayut’s administration caused Bt240 billion baht national deficit.
Increase of liquor and tobacco taxes would increase 6,000 million baht to national revenue annually.
The cabinet approved an early retirement scheme with anticipation of 10 percent decrease in state officials.
Criminal court for politician issued an arrest warrant on Thaksin and his wife on Ratchadapisek land case.
An independent panel was established to investigate on illegal misconduct of Thaksin anti-drug policy that led to extrajudicial killings and abuse of life.
Former Pol. Col accused of Constitutional judge bribery summons.
Tax on gasohol-cars reduced to promote energy consumption reduction policy.
CCTC cameras to be installed in 5 southern provinces.
The cabinet approved a draft bill on national food policy.
Election date Dec 23
HM the King signed the 2007 Constitution on August 24 and the new Constitution took effect on publication in the Royal Gazette. The next polling date was set on December 23, 2007. The tentative schedule are 1) election decree by October 30, 2) registration for MP candidates on November 7-16, 3) Advance balloting and voting outside constituencies between December 15-16 and 4) last day for a politician to become a member of a political party allowed to register for MP candidacy on November 24.
The charter outlines eight aspirations- uphold independence and security, promote every religion, revere the King as head of state and national guardian, embrace democratic rule with the King as head of state, protect the people’s participation in checking state power, ensure the balance of power between the executive and the legislative branches, and safeguard justice dispensed by the judiciary and independent organizations.
Organic laws for the 207 constitution on elections, political parties and the Election Commission (EC) passed the first reading of the National Legislative Assembly and a 33-member committee was appointed to work on the laws. The deliberation should be finished within one week but before approving the laws on their principles, NLA members discussed and opposed many issues in the Election Commission Bill such as the opportunity for people to appeal an official’s work, qualifications of provincial election commissioners and how to prevent vote-buying.
The draft organic law governing the Election Commission now requires only three members to convene meetings, and in some respects, the EC will enjoy more power.
The proposed law covering political parties, meanwhile, requires a future political party to have 5,000 members before it can be registered. It will also need to contest an election to maintain its status as a political party.
The draft law also states that no one can be a member of more than one political party at the same time.
Another new proposal is the requirement that companies donating money to a political party need to get approval from its shareholders first.
In regard to the organic law on the election, the draft bill will bar future administrations from using state funds for political party campaign.
It has also been proposed that vote counting for MPs would now take place at polling stations.
The Election Commission will spend Bt 1.9 billion to organize the general election. But the political parties will spend up to Bt 40 billion on campaigning and other costs associated with the election. The money spent during the election season could help rescue the country from its economic doldrums and declining consumer confidence that has been caused largely buy political uncertainty.
The new charter referendum was held on August 19, 2007 and passed with 14,727,306 (56.69%) to 10,747,441 (41.37%) votes. However 504,120 (1.94%) are invalid and out of all eligible voters 25,978,954 people (57.615%) of came to cast their ballots.
National deficit
PM Surayut Chulanont announced on July 2007 that after 10 months of administration a national deficit is Bt240,860 million regardless taxes revenue increased to Bt 1,134,570 million which is 6.4 percent higher than collected in the similar period last year. However, total expenditure is Bt1,301,299 million or 15.8 percent higher than the similar period last year, too.
The government used Bt 97,200 million treasury reserve and issued Bt 97, 115 million government bond and Bt 46,545 million promissory notes, totaled Bt 85,111 million, to cover the deficit.
Increase of liquor and tobacco taxes
The cabinet on August 28 approved to increase the excise tax on distilled liquor and tobacco taxes, citing a new government policy to try to cut consumption and the huge cost of treating people affected by drinking and smoking. The tax increase on liquor affects only local brands, while increase in tobacco tax covers both local and imported brands. Prices for locally-distilled “white liquor”, with an alcohol content of 28 to 40 percent, will be increases by Bt 9 to Bt 122 per 0.625-litre bottle or a rise from Bt70 to around Bt110 per litre. The rate for blended liquors, with an alcohol content of 38 to 40 per cent, will be increases by Bt9 to Bt12 per 0.625-litre bottle. Local cigarettes will cost an extra Bt2 per pack, while imported brands will cost an extra Bt3.
It is expected that the revenue department will collect more Bt6,000 million from these taxes gain while liquor and tobacco consumption would reduce by 60-65 million litre and 20 million packs per annual respectively.
State retirement scheme proposed
The cabinet meeting on August 28 approved an early retirement scheme for state officials over 50 year old- or to allow people who have done 25 years of service to retire voluntarily. The 5-year scheme starts from 2007 to 2011. State agencies which believe the scheme would not harm the effectiveness of the civil service and have the funds to provide for retirement could ask the committee for human resource development policy in the public sector to join the scheme. Each would receive compensation equivalent to 8-15 times their salary and a position allowance. They might also be entitled to apply for royal awards.
The agencies would also be prohibited from reinstating early retirees to administrative positions, but if necessary could re-hire them under one-year non-renewable contracts.
Arrest warrant on Thaksin and wife
The Criminal Tribunal for Political Office Holders issued an arrest warrant on Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife, Khunying Pojaman, for refuse to appear for arraignment on the Ratchadapisek land case. The Court earlier sent a sub-open for the two defendants to come to court for trial but they failed to appear due to both are currently reside in London. Their attorney issued a statement reaffirming they would not return to Thailand on ground of security and national reconciliation and asked for the trial to be postponed to 30 days after the elected government takes office.
The Ratchadapisek land deal was put to the court by the Asset Examine Committee (AEC) who found malfeasance in the purchasing of Bt772 million of 33 rai on Ratchadapisek Road, then held by the state’s financial rescue arm Financial Institutions Development Fund, by Khunying Pojaman on December 2003. The Court found Pojaman had violated certain terms of the constitution which stipulates that the spouse of a prime minister or any politician is prohibited from signing a government-backed contract. The Court also stressed that any asset obtained from the signing of the contract shall be confiscated.
Extrajudicial killings investigated
The cabinet on August 24, 2007 approved an appointment of an independent panel to investigate on illegal misconduct of anti-drug policy during Thaksin’s administration that led to extrajudicial killings and abuse of life, reputation and asset of the people.
The panel, chairs by former General Attorney Kanit Na Nakorn, shall have authorities to 1) investigate on the cases, 2) set up remediation standards for those effected, and 3) find means and norms to protect against such misconduct in the future.
On February 3, 2003 Thaksin administration announced the anti-drug campaign target to rid drugs from Thailand within 3 months. Implementation led to arrests, seizures, death and mysteriously disappearance of hundreds of people.
Constitutional Tribunal judges bribery scandal
Police Col. Charnchai Netirattakarn surrendered himself at the police station after an arrest warrant was issued. He was issued for arrest warrant by the Court on offering bribes of Bt30 million to two Constitutional Tribunal judges, ML Krairerk Kasemsant and Somchai Pongsara. The two were among those who ruled on the electoral fraud of the Thai Rak Thai Party that led to the party’s dissolve.
Charnchai admitted he met the two judges who are his fellow graduates from Thammasart University Class of 1966 but the offering was only a joke. He refused to elaborate or answer any more police questions and claimed his rights to testify in court. He was released on Bt200,00 bail after giving his statement.
Tax reduces on gasohol consuming cars
The cabinet meeting on August 14, 2007 approved the Finance Ministry regulation to reduce excise tax for ethanol-based consuming cars as part of the energy campaign to promote energy conservation and effectiveness. The reduction is effective on January 2008.
The new excise tax shall be 5 percent less than current rate and as the Excise Department anticipated 30,000 new ethanol-based consuming cars in 2008, it is estimated that economic gain from energy consumption reduction is Bt300 million while tax lost is Bt1,3000 million per annual.
CCTV for 5 southern provinces
The cabinet meeting on August 21, 2007 approved the Interior Ministry a plan to install 3,520 CCTV camera, cost Bt956 million, in 42 districts in 5 southern provinces; Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Satun and Songkhla. The installation starts in the 2008 fiscal year.
National food and drugs committee
The cabinet meeting on August 14, 2007 approved on principle of the draft bill on proposed by the Public Health Ministry to establish a national food and drugs committee fully authorize on policy making, supervising and solving problems.
Food and drugs are now currently under control of several agencies which causes problem of overlapping functions and authority while no agency is comprehensively supervise. The new committee shall be attached to the Office of the Food Policy and its director shall act as the head of the Office.
From : http://www.fpps.or.th
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