 October 2013 : House Passed Amnesty Bill at 4 AM.
House passed Amnesty bill at 4 am. On 31st October, after having convened for an uninterrupted 19 hours, the House of Representatives voted on its second and third reading and passed the Amnesty Bill with 310 to 0 and 4 abstention at 4 am of the nest day. The House extraordinary meeting was urgently called earlier on 29th October by the House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont and regardless to the opposition Democrat pled for more reading time due to the bill was changed from its first reading by the extraordinary committee, the vote was done the Amnesty Bill was forwarded to the Senate for final approval. The Amnesty bill was widely opposed by the civil society on its unclear meaning and multifaceted procedural. The first draft, submitted by Phue Thai Samutprakan MP Worachai Heme, was to grant amnesty to non-leader participants in the numerous rallies and political protest since the military coup in 2006 that ousted Thaksin. This draft was read and approved in principle by the House on 8the August 2013. The House appointed an extraordinary committee to examine the bill and its majority voted, on 28th October 2013, to use another draft proposed by the committee’s vice chairperson Prayut Siripanich. Prayut’s draft was called “a blanket amnesty bill” due to the amnesty was extended to:
Upon enacting, all convictions and pending judiciary process including the cracked down in the Krue Sae and Tak Bai violence in the south, all Thaksin’s corruption cases brought to court aftermath the 2006 coup and cases following the 2010 riots will be pardoned and wiped clean from all responsibilities. The NIDA poll study unveiled that 57.91% of the sampling group disapproved the blanket amnesty and 68.89% opposed if the Baht 46 billion seized will be returned to Thaksin Shinawatra reasoning they believed the money was gained unlawful. ABAC poll found that 84.7% viewed the bill was favorable to Thaksin and 76.8% think it will insecure the government. Lastly, Bangkok Poll found 55.1% of Bangkok and peripheral residents disapproved this bill. They foresee a wide protest if the bill being enforced. Thammasart University rector Somkit Lertpaitoon suggested the government to withdraw the Amnesty Bill before it further rifts the society. The Bill was also opposed by Thammasart Law lecturer Worachet Pakirat and his Nathirat group on its unusual procedure. He said the draft bill is non-amendabel after first approved. He also opposed the amnesty of state officials and commanders who disbanded the 2010 riot. Pramont Sutheewong president for the Business Sector Anti-Corruption Movement, an umbrella agent of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Industrial Federation of Thailand and the Bankers Associations of Thailand announced their stance to oppose the amnesty bill on its pardon of corruption cases. They viewed the Bill will promote wrong attitude towards corruption and weaken ethics. Two other anti-corruption movements are the Students and People’s for Thailand Reform (SPTR) and the People’s Army against Thaksin Regime (PAATR). The SPTR held a protest at Urupong intersection and the PAATR have protested in Lumpini Park for more than 2 months. 4 Democrat deputy leaders resigned from executive board On 31st October, 4 Democrat Party deputy leaders; Thaworn Senniam, Korn Chatikavanij, Issara Somchai and Siriwan Prasachaksatru resigned from the executive board members to enable them to freely oppose the Amnesty Bill. Their resignation will prevent the party from being dissolved if members coming out to campaign opposition against the bill outside the Parliament. From 18.00 hrs. a mass of anti-amnesty bill protestors started to come to Sam Saen road and overflew to the nearby Kampaengpetch road. On the stage, Suthep Tuagsuban addressed that a few Democrat members including him will be the campaign leaders and will not give up until getting victory. Constitution amendment Section 190 passed 2nd reading On 15th October, the Parliament passed its second reading of the amendment of Section 190 of the Constitution which was approved by a majority votes of the joint examination committee chaired by Kampaengpetch senator Krit Artitkaew. The amendment are:
The amendment of Section 190 was criticized on its abolition of the balance of administrative and legislative powers designated by the Constitution and could become another motivation towards an-government campaign. Baht 2 trillion loan bill passed 1st Senate reading On 7th October, the Senate convened an urgent meeting to first read the Baht 2 trillion loan bill for infrastructure development. After 2 days of deliberation by 74 senators, the bill was approved by 86 to 41 and 8 abstention votes. A 25 members extraordinary committee was appointed to read the bill within 7 days but was extended to 30 day due to 18 agencies would be called to provide information. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittirat Na Ranong reaffirmed the Senate that the government is urgency need the Baht 2 trillion loan. He reassured the money will be spent transparency and compliance to the budget regulations. He said the Baht 2 trillion loan will not significantly affect national finance. Public debt will not exceed 50% of GDP within the next years. CC to proceed on the amendment of the senate composition On 24th October, the Constitutional Court called a meeting on 8th November 2013 for the hearing of 4 petitions submitted by 1) senator Somchet Boontanom and affiliations, 2) Democrat party list MP Wirat Kalyasiri and affiliates, 3) Rayong senator Sai Kangkavekin and affiliates and 4) Democrat party list MP Peerapan Sariratvipak and affiliates. These petitioners cited their rights in Section 68 of the Constitution to protect democracy and lodged complaints on the amendment on the senate composition, having been approved by the House Speaker, the deputy House Speakers and 312 MPs. The court previously rejected two complaints, submitted by senator Paiboon Nititawan and affiliates and Democrat MP Jurin Laksanavisith and affiliates, on the amendment of the senate composition. The Court reasoned the action did not comply to Section 154 paragraph. CC ruled 2014 budget bill constitutional On 4th October, the 8 Constitutional Court judges unanimously ruled Section 27 and 28 of the 2014 Fiscal Budget Bill are constitutional and not incompliance to Section 168 paragraph 8 and 9 of the Constitution. Section 27 of the 2014 Fiscal Budget bill is on the budget of the Office of the Judicial Court and the Administration Court and Section 28 on the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission. The petitions were submitted by Senator Paiboon Nititawan and affiliates and Democrat Songkhla MP Wirat Kalyasiri and affiliates. “Surapong” slipped impeachment On 1st October, the Senate convened an extraordinary session to vote on the impeachment of former ICT minister Surapong Suebwonglee and ICT permanent secretary Kraisorn Pornsutee on their change of satellite concession, in 2004, in favorable of Thaksin Shinawatra’s Shin Corporation shareholding. The National Anti-corruption Commission claimed the two persons had breached the disciplinary code and committed dereliction of duty. The voting was done covertly and Surapong received 71 to 59 and Kraisorn 66 to 66 and 1 abstention votes. Since the law requires impeachment voting must be casted by 3 in 5, or 90, of the senators convened, therefore both Surapong and Kraisorn slipped the retroactive impeachment and political bar. New Election Commissioners named On 15th October, the selection committee of the election commission voted by nominate 3 persons out of a total of 42 applicants to become the new election commissioners. They are 1) a retired Thammasart lecturer Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, 2) senior judge to Appeal Court Boonson Noisophon and 3) former ombudsman Pravit Ratanapien. All received more than tow third of the votes as required by the law. Three election commissioners should come from general applicants and two selected from the Supreme Court judges. Earlier in October, the Supreme Court judges held a meeting and nominated Supachai Somchareon and Dr. Teerawat Teerarotewit to the positions. All five nominees will be submitted to the Senate for approval. Their office term is 7 years. AG filed Abhisit-Suthep over 2010 riot disband Attorney General Attapol Yaisawang claimed former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejajiva and former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuasuban violated Section 80, 83, 84, 90 and 288 of the Criminal Law when they were in charge of the Centre for Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) and ordered the military force to disband protestors and caused death and injuries in the 2010 riots. The AG will file a complaint to court. On 31st October, the National Anti-Corrution Commission (NACC) resolved to quickly investigate into the AG prosecution. NACC to investigate water management program On 29th October, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) resolved to appoint a sub-committee, chair by Vicha Mahakhun, to investigate Prime Minister yingluck Shinawatra and permanent secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister and deputy permanent secretary of the Finance Ministry functions in the Baht 350 billion water management program. The case was submitted to NACC by 132 Democrat party members reasoning the program management is unlawful. Parliament session closes on 29th November On 15th October, the cabinet approved a draft royal decree on the closing of parliament session on 29th November 2013. A budget to study-design Andaman rail line The joint state-private sector committee chaired by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra resolved a plan to build Andaman rail line starting from Surat Thani on the east coast to Phuket, Ranong and Trang on the west coast. It is anticipated that the Andaman line will boost tourism in the south. Transport Minister Chatchart Sithiphan said the ministry has allocated a budget for the study and design and anticipated an investment cost is around Baht 15 billion to 20 billion. Security Law extended in Bangkok On 18th October, the cabinet resolved to extend the Security Law already applied in 3 districts of Bangkok; Dusit, Pranakorn and Pomprabsatrupai, from 19th October to 30th November. The tree districts are area where state buildings locate. 30 companies of police force, equivalent to 4,280 officers, were assigned to guard these buildings including the Parliaments. 11th November is the day World Court will rule over the Phra Viharn case and the government anticipated there might be violence after the verdict read. NACC indicted Yuranand falsified asset list On 25th October, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) resolved former Phue Thai party list MP and currently advisor to the interior minister Yuranand Pamornmontri intentionally falsified his asset list in 2011 when he become a member of the parliament. A Villa Medica (Thailand) shares worth Baht 14 million was not listed. The case will be lodged to the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for People Holding Political Positions and if the Court rule him guilty, Yuranand could be retroactive expelled and 5 years ban from political activity. During investigation, the NACC also found Yuranand failed to included his wife’s account, Baht 3 million, at the Thai Airways Cooperative in the list. Public debt rose to 44.63% GDP The Public Debt Management Office disclosed that at the end of August 2013 public debt has increased at Baht 74.2 billion from the previous month and to a total of Baht 5.3 trillion, equivalents to 44.63% GDP. A Baht 3.67 trillion is the government debt, Baht 1.09 trillion non-financial state enterprises, Baht 524 billion government guaranteed financial state enterprises and the rest Baht 834 million other state agencies. 80 death toll in 16 flooded provinces On 26th October, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported flooding situation in 16 provinces, 62 districts, 408 sub-districts and 3,162 villages has affected 174,970 households or 533,776 people which are approximately 0.83% of the national population. Death toll was reported at 80. Bangkok 5th risk from climate change The British expert in risk analysis Maplecroft Co. revealed its report Climate Change Vulnerability Index that Bangkok was ranked fifth after Dacca in Bangladesh, Mumbai India, Manila Philippines and Golgotha India. The report forecast one third of world economy will have severe impact from climate change within the next 12 years. In October, many typhoons swept across Asia and caused heavy rain, flood and even land slide. Wutip in Vietnam. Nari in Thailand, Pito in China, Vipa in Japan and the Philippines. The Philippines was struck by two devastate typhoons, Vipa and Usangi. Thousands of people went homeless and hundreds died and lost in the flood and landslides. In Europe, Cyclone St.Jude from the North Sea swept into the UK brought thunder storm of more than 128 km per hr velocity. Airline flights were cancelled and more than 200,00 households went out of electricity. The Asian Development Bank surged countries in Eastern Asia Particularly China and Japan, where 30% of the regional heavy industry located, to more cooperate in solving global warming problems which is the main cause of natural disaster. While global investment in infrastructure to solve climate change problems was at USD. 37 billion, damages within the past 40 years was more than USD 340 billion. From : http://www.fpps.or.th |