 March 2011 : PM and 9 others sailed through motion of no-confidence
PM and 9 others sailed through motion of no-confidence The Prime Minister and 9 Cabinet members sailed through the motion of no confidence brought by the Opposition Puea Thai Party. On 15th – 18th March, the House of Representatives debated the motion and on 19th March reached the following party line voting:
House passed 3 election bills On 23rd March, the House of Representatives passed its first reading of three election bills, they were:
Later, the House appointed an Extraordinary Committee of 36 members, comprising of 5 ministers and 31 MPs, to scrutinize and deliberate the bills within 7 days before resubmitting it to the House. It is expected that after these bills have been approved, the Prime Minister will dissolve Parliament to be followed by a general election. Every constituency listed The Royal Gazette published names of all 375 constituencies. The ratio of voters to MP is 170,342 to 1. Bangkok Metropolitan has the most with 33, followed by Nakhon Ratchasima 15, Ubon Ratchathani 11, Chiang Mai 10, Khon Kaen 10, Nakhon Si Thammarat 9 and Buri Ram 9. The establishment of the new Bung Khan Province will only be effective on 23rd March 2011, therefore it was not listed separately and its 5 MPs are included in Nong Khai’s. Constitution Court declined to rule on JBC memoranda On 30th March, the Constitutional Court declined to rule on the 3 memoranda of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission on the basis that these documents required several administrative and legislative steps before they are valid. The petition was submitted by the House of Representatives, asking the Court to decide whether these documents amount to international treaties under Section 190 of the Constitution, which would require parliamentary approval. Senate endorsed Additional Expenditure Bill On 21st March, after a long debate, the Senate unanimously decided by 36 votes (and 25 abstentions) to approve the Additional Expenditure Bill of 2011, worth 99 billion Baht. Concerns centered on monitoring mechanism. There were fears that the budget would be used in the upcoming election campaign. The Bill will now go for royal endorsement. Last of UDD bailed On 17th March, the Criminal Court granted bail to Aram Sangarun, Manop Chanchangthong and Sompong Bangchom on bonds of 600,000 baht each. They were the last of United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship defendants detained after violent protest in April-May 2010. Moreover, Detchapol Putthajong and Kampol Kumkong, accused of bombing Bhumjaithai Party, were also bailed at 500,000 Baht each. PAD to pay 522 MB damages On 25th March, the Civil Court ordered 13 core members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to pay 522 million baht damages to the Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) for the eight-day blockade of Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports in late 2008. The court ruled that seizure of the two airports forced suspension of air services, causing both physical and commercial damage to AoT. The 13 defendants were ordered to pay the damages at 7.5 per cent interest starting from 3rd Dec 2008 when the occupation of the airports ended as well as AoT's legal fees of 80,000 baht. Defendants include Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, Sondhi Limthongkul, Pibhop Dhongchai, Somsak Kosaisuk, Suriyasai Katasila, Somkiat Pongpaibul, Saranyu Wongkrajang, Sirichai Mai-ngam and Maleerat Kaewka. During 26th Nov- 3rd Dec 2008, they led a large number of people to rally inside the two airports following their extended protest demanding the resignation of the government under Somchai Wongsawat. Security Law in Bangkok re-extended On 22nd March, the Cabinet extended the imposition of the Internal Security Act (ISA) in seven districts of Bangkok for another 30 days at the request of the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order. The ISA was first imposed 9th -23rd February to cope with rallies by the People's Alliance for Democracy and the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship. It covers seven Bangkok districts: Wang Thong Lang, Pathumwan, Ratchathewi, Dusit, Watthana, Pomprop Sattruphai and Phra Nakhon. It was last extended to 25th March, so the new extension will run from 26th March to 24th April. Ministry of Social Development restructured On 28th March, the Cabinet resolved to rename and restructure the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. The new name will be the Ministry of Social Development. It is to have 7 organizations as follows:
Social security for non-formal workers On 28th March, the Cabinet approved the Ministry of Labour’s proposal to extend social security programs to include non-formal workers as follows:
Raises for low pay at state enterprise On 28th March, the Cabinet approved the Ministry of Labour’s proposal to allow 65 state enterprises to increase pay at maximum 5 percent for employees whose monthly salaries do not exceed 50,000 Baht provided the funds come from their own organizations. The new pay will be effective from 1st April, 2011. The Cabinet also approved a bonus of 1-month salary to personnel in five state banks for their contribution to the economic revitalization program. They are:
Thais against nuclear power The Assumption University or ABAC Poll disclosed its recent study, conducted nationwide in 17 provinces on 3,807 adults from 1st-25th March. More than eighty per cent of the respondents (83.4%) disagreed with the plan to construct nuclear power plant in Thailand while 16.6 percent supported it. When asked about building a nuclear plant in their respective province, 89.5 per cent said no, while 10.5 per cent had no objection, The poll was done after the 9.0 Richter scale earthquake and tsunami hit Japan on 11th March causing devastation to buildings, roads, and facilities including the Fukujima nuclear power plant. People within 20-30 kilometer of the plant were evacuated to avoid leaking radiation. Though there is no nuclear power plant in Thailand, there was a survey as to suitable locations as well as a report stating that without the nuclear energy, the country will face an energy crisis and rising electricity costs since coal, petroleum and natural gas are being depleted. From : http://www.fpps.or.th |