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November 2012 : Government Escaped Censure
Government escaped censure
Government’s accomplishments after one year
Pitak Siam dissolved after clash with police
Administration Court to consider Abhisit’s petition
Korkaew Pikulthong had bail revoked
Treasury Reserves increased
Society security contribution level maintained
Security Law in the South re-extended
Thai judicial system 80th out of 97 countries
Parliament enacted 11 Bills in 2012
House approved credit card bills
Money-laundering bills approved by Senate
Bt. 300 minimum wage extended nationwide Jan 2013
Diesel tax reduction re-extended
Government escaped censure
The Prime Minister and 3 Cabinet members survived a motion of no confidence. The debate was held on 25-27 November on the following topics:
Rice pledging scheme: 7.3 million tons of stock which was supposedly sold on a Government–to-Government basis, but apparently not exported as claimed and secretly sold to a newly established local company. The scheme caused losses to the state since pledged prices were higher than market prices. Moreover, there is an annual cost of Bt. 6 billion for renting silos to store government stock. In addition, actual stock was lower than inventory because some rice was re-circulated.
The Prime Minister explained that the government had allocated Bt. 410 billion to boost prices of agriculture products and Bt. 350 billion was spent in the 2012 rice-pledging scheme. It is expected that in 2013 there would be an income of Bt. 240-260 billion. She guaranteed the loss would not exceed the price guarantee scheme under the former Democrat administration. If there is any corruption, the public should participate in monitoring it. However, she admitted that Thailand has now dropped from first to third rank amongst global rice-exporting countries.
Chalerm Ubumrung negligent: as Deputy Prime Minister he did not revoke Thaksin Shinawatra’s officer status as the latter was convicted by the Supreme Court‘s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions for violating Anti-Corruption Law and convicted to two years imprisonment.
Sukumpol changed TOR: the Minister of Defense changed the terms of reference for the purchase of gun-stands to be installed on the Naresuan frigate from swivel to singular direction stands.
Chatt Kuldiloke’s conflict of interest: the Deputy Minister of Interior was accused of using a non-bidding purchasing process and that contractors were related to politicians in the Bt. 120 billion flood management project.
Voting was held on 28th November 2012 and all government members escaped censure by the following number of votes:
The Prime Minister: 308 versus159 with 4 abstentions,
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Ubumrung: 287 versus 157 with 25 abstentions,
Defense Minister Sukampol Suwannathat: 284 versus167 with 25 abstentions,
Deputy Interior Minister Chatt Kuldiloke: 284 versus182 with 5 abstentions.
Section 158 of the Constitution stated that more than one-half of the attending members of the House of Representatives must pass a vote of no confidence and 485 MPs attended.
Government’s accomplishments after one year
The Office of the Prime Minister published a paper outlining the government’s accomplishments after one year in office. Referring to the policy statement, 16 proposals were implemented, they are:
1. Conciliating the nation: submitted a Reconciliation Draft Bill to Parliament, established an independent panel to determine the truth and to recommend reconciliation plans, compensated 1,816 victims of political violence at a total budget of Bt. 1,373.93 million and bailed 67 offenders.
2. Designating drug problems on the national agenda, suppressing drug trade, treating drug addicts and preventing them from reuse.
3. Suppressing corruptions among officials by providing a variety of methods for the public to report corruption.
4. Undertaking water resource management in a comprehensive and integrated manner by allocating Bt. 3 billion for flood management scheme, inviting private sectors to submit turnkey projects and restoring existing rivers and canals at a total budget of Bt. 120 billion.
5. Returning peace and safety to the southern provinces, extending the emergency law from November 2012 and having the Prime Minister directly overseeing overall operation.
6. Improving cooperation with neighboring and other countries and promoting Thailand to become a hub of ASEAN.
7. Alleviating economic problems by re-extending diesel tax reduction.
8. Upgrading the quality of life and increasing domestic consumption by reducing household expenditure, increasing income by increasing daily minimum wage to Bt. 300 and bachelor degree monthly salary to Bt. 15,000 and refunding tax to the first-car and first-home buyers.
9. Reducing corporate tax to 23%.
10. Promoting access to credit for people on low income by:
Introducing debt relief scheme for farmers and low-income households,
SMEs funds,
Giving Bt. 100 million per province for women development fund,
Increasing village funds and distributing taxi driver credit cards.
11. Allocating Bt. 410 billion to raise prices of agricultural products, for example, the rice-pledging scheme.
12. Increasing income in the tourism sector.
13. Promoting community arts and craft products by supporting the Queen’s Support Foundation and OTOP products to overseas market.
14. Improving efficiency and equality in three public healthcare programs: the 30 baht public health, the social security scheme and the civil service medical benefits.
15. Providing 860,000 tablet PCs to first grade students nationwide.
16. Promoting political reform and constitutional amendments.
The paper described that when the Yingluck administration took office, politics were unstable and there were many problems such as drugs, corruption among politicians and state officials and deterioration in society and the economy. The previous government solved these problems slowly and dis-jointly causing a lack of confidence amongst domestic and foreign investors. Moreover, there was no measure to respond to increasingly aging population. The 2011 flood and the lack of water management scheme caused the economy to slow down and become less competitive. Wide income disparity was causing problems and the lack of democracy harmed international relations with neighboring countries.
Pitak Siam dissolved after clash with police
The Pitak Siam group, led by General Boonlert Kaewprasit, held a second demonstration on 24th November at 09.01 hr. at the King Rama V plaza near parliament.
At 07.30, when approximately 300 people tried to dismantle barbed wired barrier at the Makawan Rangsan Bridge, the approach to the demonstration site, police fired tear gas to stop them. This led to clashes and 150 people, including 2 reporters from ASTV and Thai PBS, were arrested and detained at police quarters in Pratum Thani province.
The morning clash arouse protesters’ anger and by 13.56 hrs. at the Miksakwan intersection, they made another attempt to dismantle the barriers. This time more tear gas and smoke bombs were used and 28 people were injured. At 17.20 Gen. Boonlert called off the demonstration, terminated his connections and resigned from the leadership.
Previously on 22nd November, the Cabinet resolved to apply emergency laws in three Bangkok districts: Pranakorn, Pomprap Satrupai and Dusit, for 9 days started from 22 to 30 November. Provincial police officers were summoned to assist in keeping order making the total number of 50,000 police. They set up concrete and barbed wired barriers along roads leading to King Rama V Plaza.
Before the demonstration started, former Senator, Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, and two people including a Phue Thai MP, Singthong Buachum, petitioned the Constitutional Court to rule on the constitutionality of the Pitak Siam demonstration. They claimed that the action would lead to an overthrow of democratic government. On 22nd November, the Court dismissed the petition since there was no such evidence.
Administration Court to consider Abhisit’s petition
On 30th November, the Central Administration Court accepted a petition submitted by Abhisit Vejjajiva againstthe Defense Minister, Sukampol Suwannathat’s order to deprive him of his military rank and revoke all benefits. The order was retroactive to 2nd June 1988.
After Abhisit graduated from Oxford University in England, he applied to join military service in 1987. He produced a document, issued by the recruiting officer, that he was waived from serving in the military while he was studying abroad. Abhisit was accepted in the army and became a lecturer at the Military School as a second lieutenant before resigning in 1988. It was only recently that the Defense Ministry resolved that there was an error in the document and that it was a falsification. Therefore, on 8th October 2012, the Defense Minister deprived Abhisit of his military status and ordered him to return all the benefits he had previously received from the army.
The Court ordered the Minister of Defense, Sukampol, to respond by submitting documents within 30 days.
Korkaew Pikulthong had bail revoked
On 30th November, the Criminal Court revoked bail on Phue Thai MP and Red Shirt leader, Korkaew Pikulthong, for inciting unrest and breaching bail conditions. Korkaew was detained at Lak Si Prison.
However the Court did not revoke bail of other Phue Thai MPs: Nattawut Saikua, Weng Tohjirakarn, Wipootalaeng Pattanaputai and Karun Hosakul, but added more conditions such as being barred from incitement leading to unrest or misconduct and leaving the jurisdiction.
Treasury Reserves increased
The Bank of Thailand announced on 23th November that Treasury Reserves had increased by USD 900 million, to USD 181.5 billion or approximately Bt. 5.576 trillion.
Society security contribution level maintained
The Secretary to the Social Security Board, Jirasak Sukontachart, disclosed that the Board resolved to maintain the level of contribution at 4%from both employers and employees into the social security fund for another year.
Security Law in the South re-extended
On 30th November, the Cabinet resolved to extend security law in the 4 districts of Songkla Province and in the Mae Lan district of Pattani Province for another year. From now on the Prime Minister will oversee all southern management, including budgets, and the Defense Minister Sukampol will supervise all operations.
Thai judicial system 80thout of 97 countries
The World Legal and Judicial Systems unveiled its 2012 index, showing that Thailand civil law enforcement ranks 80th out of 97 countries worldwide. They stated that the Thai legal process was slow and difficult to enforce. Civilian conflict, political violence and corruption among judicial and police officers are widespread problems.
In criminal law efficiency, Thailand ranks 35th, and 7th among the middle to high-income countries.
Parliament enacted 11 Bills in 2012
The House Speaker, Somsak Kiatsuranont, disclosed that Parliament enacted 11 out of a total of 85 bills submitted in 2012. In addition, Parliament considered 10 motions and discussed 224 submitted questions.
House approved credit card bills
On 21st November, the House of Representatives unanimously approved 3 credit card bills submitted by the Cabinet, Phue Thai and Democrat MPs. The three bills contain similar principles to regulate credit card transactions, particularly to protect consumers.
Money-laundering bills approved by Senate
On 20th November, the Senate attended by 85 members unanimously voted to pass two money laundering bills after making minor amendments to include being in possession of prohibited natural resources or violating the environment into definitions of international crimes.
Bt. 300 minimum wageextended nationwideJan 2013
On 20th November, the Cabinet resolved to apply the Bt. 300 daily minimum wage nationwide starting on 1st January 2103. This minimum wage will now include the rest of the country’s 70 provinces.
The minimum wage increase caused a rift in the Federation of Thai Industries when 139 members voted to remove its president, Payungsak Chartsutipol, and replaced him with a former president, Santi Vilassakdanont. The members wanted to prevent the minimum wage increase in the rest of the 70 provinces until 31st December 2015, but Payungsak failed.
Payungsak refused to accept the removal saying he could only be removed by a Cabinet’s resolution or by more than two-third of the members, which would be 5,248.
Diesel tax reduction re-extended
On 20th November, the Cabinet resolved to re-extend the reduction on diesel excise tax for another month or until 31st December 2012.
From : http://www.fpps.or.th
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