 February 2011 : No-confidence Motion Submitted
Another no-confidence motion On 28th February 2011, the Opposition Party submitted a motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister and 8 Cabinet Ministers according to Articles 271 and 274 of the Constitution. It is expected that the censure debate will take place between 15th and 18th March with voting on 19th. The 8 ministers are:
Mingkwan Saengsuwan, Head of the Opposition Party said that the censure would concern three issues:
Bail for UDD leaders On 22nd February, the Criminal Court granted bail to 7 United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leaders and 1 Red Shirt guard. Bail bonds were 600,000 Baht each and they were prohibited from leaving the jurisdiction or inciting unrest. Persons granted bail were: Natthawut Saikua, Weng Tojirakarn, Korkaew Pikulthong, Nisit Sinthuprai, Kwanchai Sarakham, Wiphuthalaeng Pattanaphumthai, and Yossawaris Chuklom or Jeng Dokchik. The Red Shirt guard was Phumkitti or Pichet, Suchindathong. The eight had been detained in Bangkok Prison on charges including terrorism in connection with violence during the UDD protests in April-May last year. The Court granted bail after six people vouched for the prisoners. The six include: Pol Maj-Gen Wichai Sangprapai: the Metropolitan Police Division 1 Commander, Veera Musikhapong: former UDD Chairman and himself released on an earlier bail, Sanan Kachornprasart: a former Deputy Prime Minister, and Kanit Na Nakorn: Chairman of the (the government-appointed) Truth for Reconciliation Committee Court refused to consider constitutional amendment On 23rd February, the Constitutional Court refused to consider Puea Thai Party’s petition that the recent Constitutional amendment was in breach of the 2010 parliamentary regulations. The Court stated that the matter was not within its jurisdiction. ASEAN wants to send observers to Thai-Cambodian border On 22nd February, the unofficial meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in Jakarta resolved to send two Indonesian observing teams to the disputed Thai-Cambodian border. This was because Indonesia had experience with border conflict with East Timor. Meanwhile, the two disputants stated that they would try to avoid further clashes. On 4th February, an eruption of hostility between Thai and Cambodian troops occurred when artilleries were fired into Sri Saket Province causing one death and destroying a school and several houses. Thai villagers along the border were evacuated further inland and Cambodia reported that the Temple of Phra Viharn was damaged by Thai artillery. In 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled that the Temple of Phra Viharn belongs to Cambodia; the Thai government at the time therefore, returned the Temple to Cambodia but retained the surrounding 4.6 square kilometers. Later Cambodian villagers squatted in this area and established a village temple, Wat Keo Sekha Kirisvarak in 1998. This area became a further cause of dispute when Cambodia proposed in 2008, that the Temple of Phra Viharn should be listed as a World Heritage Site. Cambodian administrative plan was strongly objected to by Thailand since the adjacent land belongs to Thailand so both countries should jointly administer the area. After the recent eruption of hostility, Cambodia called for UN intervention which was declined. The UN suggested that the matter should be settled bilaterally. Bangkok Security Law extended On 22nd February, the Cabinet resolved to extend to 25th March the Internal Security Act (ISA) in 7 districts of Bangkok. The 7 districts are: Wang Thonglang, Pathumwan, Ratchathewi, Dusit, Watthana, Pomprap Sattruphai and Phra Nakhon. ISA was imposed on police request in order to handle rallies by two opposing groups, the People's Alliance for Democracy and the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship. Previously, the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation had proposed that the ISA be extended to only 4 districts and only for 15 days to handle protests in those areas. Senate increases teacher salary On 28th February 71 members of the Senate unanimously approved a Teacher Pay Rise Bill to increase teachers’ salaries up to maximum 10%. The Bill will go before the House before royal assent. More restrictions on tobacco packaging The Tobacco Control Commission issued a Public Health Ministerial Regulation prohibiting the printing of incentive words on packs of imported tobacco products under the control of the 1992 Tobacco and Cigarette Act. Prohibitive words are such as Mild, Mint, Ice, Cool, or Light. There is a further ministerial regulation requiring all cigarette and tobacco packs to display 1 of 10 warning messages as well as names of carcinogenic toxins. Both of these regulations will come into force after gazetted. Paternal leave for government officials On 8th February, the Cabinet granted male government employees the right to request a 15-day paternal leave for the birth of a legitimate child and upon confirmation by the spouse. The new benefit applies to 5 categories of state officials, they are:
Growth and inflation in 2010 and 2011 The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) stated that economic growth for the last quarter of 2010 was 3.8 percent with overall average for the year at 7.8 percent. It also anticipates that economic growth for 2011 will be at approximately 3.5-4.5 percent. However, fuel prices are likely to increase because of instability in the Middle East, these will push up the cost of agriculture, industry and services. Therefore, inflation is expected at 3.8 percent in 2011. Such inflation might hold back employment because employers will increasingly turn towards foreign labour, adversely affecting unskilled Thai workers. NESDB, therefore, suggests that daily minimum wage should increase to 300 Baht in 2 years and the government control prices on certain goods. BMTA to run buses only The Office of State Enterprises and Government Portfolio approved a proposal to spilt the role of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA). Currently BMTA provides transport as well as regulate the industry. Under the proposal, BMTA will retain the service role but supervision will be transferred to the Department of Land Transport, Ministry of Transport. The Department will supervise the whole industry including private transport companies. In addition, as requested by BMTA, old buses will be replaced. A maximum of 1,957 buses of more than 17 years (1,579 non-air conditioned and 378 air-conditioned buses) will be replaced with new ones. Total Asbestos ban The National Health Commission Office, chaired by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, resolved to ban the use of Asbestos in all forms and to replace it with other materials. Prohibition covers the production, import, export and possession. The resolution will be submitted for Cabinet approval and it is expected that the ban will be established by Industrial Ministry regulations by the end of 2011. CAT to sue Thaksin-cabinet On 24th February, the extraordinary Board meeting of CAT Telecom Public Company Limited resolved to proceed against a Thaksin-era Cabinet on grounds that its resolution in February 2003 caused it a loss of 40 billion Baht. The Cabinet at that time allowed concession partners to deduct 10 percent of its income as telecommunication excise tax. Limitation period will expire on 26th February 2011, so proceedings must commence immediately. Private use of public land allowed The House of Representatives voted 332 to 2 to approve the Public Land Management Bill to allow some private use of public land in order to improve the livelihood of the landless. The Bill will now go before the Senate. Bangkok to get 50 km Skywalk Bangkok Metropolitan Authority revealed its plan to construct a super Skywalk, totaling 50 kilometers, in the inner area of Bangkok. Construction will be divided into 2 phases. The First Phase of 16 km. will cover Sukhumvit, Phyayathai, Ramkhamhaeng and Wong Wian Yai at a total cost of 5.2 billion Baht. Construction period is 18 months, starting in March 2011. Phase Two of 32 km., total cost 10 billion Baht is scheduled between 2012 and 2014. Senate requires ID card for 7 years old The Senate unanimously approved the Identification Card Bill, which revised the age at which a citizen must obtain an ID card. The House version required the card from the age of one, while the Senate revised it upwards to seven years old. The Bill also requires that all Thais between the ages of 7 and 70 to have an ID card. The Bill will now return to the House where it can either be accepted or reconsidered by a joint committee. From : http://www.fpps.or.th |