 January 2015 : NLA Resolved to Impeach Yingluck
NLA resolved to impeach Yingluck On 23rd January, 219 members of the National Legislation Assembly voted on the impeachment of 3 persons; Yingluck Sjinawatra on her negligence to stop corruption in the rice pledge program, former House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranond, and former Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatchpanich , over their exercises on the revision of Senate composition. Yingluck was impeached by 190 to 18 and 11 abstained votes but Somsak and Nikom escaped with 100 to 115 and 4 abstained and 95 to 120 and 4 abstained respectively. NLA resolution would bar Yingluck from political running for 5 years. The National Anti-Corruption Commission on 30th September 2014 resolved to forward the three cases to be decided by the NLA. NACC indicted Boonsong involved G-2-G rice deception On 20th January, the National Anti-Corruption Commission unanimously resolved, 7:0, that former Commerce ministry Boonsong Teriyapirom and 21 associates dishonesty involved in the selling of 65 billion tons of white rice, of Baht 847 million, in the government stock. The contract was settled on the Government-to-Government non-bidding basis on condition that the rice, sold at a lower cost, would be exported by two Chinese companies; Hai Nan and Kwangtung, to China but NACC found the two companies were not authorized by Chinese government as G-to-G agents and the stock was not exported but resold to Thai company, Siam Indica, for domestically consumption. CC proposed merger of Ombudsmen and HRC On 30th January, the chairperson of the Constituent Committee (CC) Bowornsak U-wanno said the CC resolved to merge two offices, the Ombudsmen and Human Rights Commission, in order to provide efficiency and rid double functions. The new agency, comprise of 11 commissioners, each with different responsibilities as to be stated in the organic law, would responsible on the protection of human rights, dignity, freedom and equality and would. A security bill to allow state accessibility to cyber information On 20th January, the Cabinet approved a Cyber Security draft bill with principle to appoint a National Cyber Security Council and administrative office. Measures and procedural on cyber security would be regulated to protect internet and telecommunication offensive. The Council functions are to draw an action plan to be used as guidelines to prevent and resolve cybercrimes. NRC resolved to cancel 21st petroleum concession On 13th January, the National Reform Council (NRC) voted to disapprove a plan to open the 21st petroleum concession with 130 to 79 and 21 abstained. HRC 2015 report unveiled On 27th January, the Cabinet resolved to acknowledge the Human Rights Commission report of 2015. One among many issues was the violence in 2013 whereas many protestors and journalist were wounded by state officers. The HRC recommended these victims should receive equal remediation and compensation to those cases resolved by the Yingluck administration. Ruling on BTS lifts reverted by Supreme Administration Court On 21st January, the Supreme Administration Court reverted the Central Court’s ruling and ordered Bangkok Metropolitan Authority to install passengers’ lifts and handicapped facilities to the remaining non-facilitation 23 BTS stations. Wheelchairs space must also be provided in every train with handicapped symbols visible both inside and outside all trains. These facilities must be fully provided within 1 year after the court’s ordered. Mobile phone air time to recalculate by seconds On 29th January, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission ( NBTC) resolved all mobile phone providers, AIS, DTAC, TRUE, TOT and CAT Telecom, must charge air time according to the customers’ actual useage, or by seconds. This is to be effective since 1st March 2015. Cabinet revoked free bus ride policy On 27th January, the Cabinet resolved to revoke the free bus and train ride policy and assigned the Transport Ministry to find alternatives to help people of low income. Reasons were that the free-bus ride was a use of tax to benefit only a few groups of riders who might not be low income. Moreover, the service was popular among some tourists. PM endorsed 5 special economic zones On 19th January, Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha endorsed the National Economic Development Zones in five areas; Tak, Mookdaharn, Sa Kaew, Songkla and Trad. Severe draught is anticipated The Rain and Aviation Operations Center Department of Agriculture anticipated a severe draught in 2015 summer due to the El Nino effect and very low rainfall since 2014. The situations could be worse in this upcoming dry season if the fire are set in woodlands and fields. The villagers normally burn agricultural residues in summer before the planting season starts and some also set fire in woodlands, too. Rice farmers compensation policy effective Water supply in many urban areas along the Chao Phaya and Mae Klong rivers was sometimes salty in the dry season due to inadequate of fresh water to prevent the sea water from flowing up. The situation could be worse this summer since less rainfall in those previous years could not fill up dams and reservoirs in the north. Shortage of water in the Chao Phaya and Mae Klong basins was anticipated if the river water would be drawn for second crop rice in the irrigation areas and this would lead to a serious problem of salty river water. However, the Irrigation Department anticipated the problem was solved by the effectiveness of state compensation to rice farmers refrained to cultivate their second crop in the irrigation area. The agency estimated the planting area has been reduced from 9.5 to 2.3 million rais. Energy consumption rose 1.9% in 2014 The Energy Ministry disclosed a total consumption of energy in commercial sector in 2014 was Baht 2,168,867 million and Baht 39,644 million, or 1.9%, higher than in 2013. Energy consumption expects to rise 2.9% in 2015. Operation on forest reclaims starts On 14th January, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry kick-started a countrywide operation on forest reclaim. There would be different implementation in regards to 4 different groups;
Capitalists and financial backers are main targets rather than small lawbreakers. Solid waste became national agenda Solid waste disposal became a national agenda when six provinces have been chosen to explore the waste-to-energy pilot projects. They are Pranakorn Sri Ayudhaya, Nakorn Pathom, Saraburi, Lopburi, Samutprakarn and Patumthani. The plan is to build six power plants within five years but in order to accomplish, four measures must be completed within one year. They are:
According to the Natural Resource and Environment Ministry, a total of 73,355 tons of garbage were daily produced throughout the country. While an average of garbage production is 1-1.5 kg per person per day, Bangkok residents produces 2 kg per day and higher than average. The rest of the country is lower with 0.93 kg per person per day. As waste management throughout the country is inefficiency, a total of 30 million tons has been accumulated in all open landfills nationwide. There are a total 2,500 solid waste treatment facilities in the country but 80% of them are sub-standard. Among all, the most problematic are Samutprakarn, Songkla, Karnchanaburi, Nakorn Sri Thammarat, Surat Thani, Ratchburi, Khon Kaen, Pranakorn Sri Ayudhaya and Prachinburi . In 2014, the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion has proposed a waste management roadmap comprised of 4 activities:
The mission was co-launched by the two ministries; the Natural Resource and Environmental and the Interior under the Clean City Project. Public participation was sought under the 3R principle, Reduce Reuse Recycle and 170,000 local volunteers had demonstrated how household garbage should be properly treated. SET to promote sustainable environmental development The Stock Exchange of Thailand ( SET) in collaborating with the Security and Exchange Commission, the Association of Investment Management Companies, the Thai Listed Companies Association, the Association of Thai Listed Companies, the Thai Institute of Directors and the Foundation for Thais for Sustainable Investment to promote environmental sustainability as competitiveness among listed companies. Criteria and measures on environment, social and corporate governance capabilities would set up in line with the Dow Jones Sustainability Index ( DJSI) and outstanding companies met with standards would be selected, awarded and publicize in the regional and international forums. This is expected to be done in 2015. Central Group launched “Environmental Protection Program” The Central Group has launched an Environmental Protection Program which focuses on energy saving. Measures on energy saving had been made and applies to all business sectors, executives and staffs. New projects would use avant-garde and eco-friendly technologies and all new commercial centers would be green buildings. Energy saving has been promoted to hotels’ customers and retail shoppers. There are two separate campaigns for each groups. Hotel guests are encouraging to minimize their consumption of water, electricity and chemical products while the shoppers are stimulated to join the No Bag Day Sale, No Bag No Baht program. The Central shopping facilities expected to reduce the use of more than 15 million plastic bags within 5 years. Environmental laws to be strictly enforced in China Following an officially reveal of a white paper on environmental situations that two third of land countrywide is contaminated with heavy metal and 60 % of underground water is polluted and non-drinkable, a new Environmental Law was enforced since 7th January 2015 in the Republic of China. The law not only allows private and public agencies to file plaintiff but the accuser would also have a privilege of being an “Environmental Protector” and receive a discount on the court’s fee. ROC is the world number one of Greenhouse gas emission. Road accidents from icy weather Temperature in the northeastern part of Philadelphia US suddenly dropped after heavy rainfall and an iced up to a quarter-inch thick glazed over the Interstate 95 corridor. This caused road accidents of 30-50 vehicles with 4 people fatal injuries. Land connection between New Berg and New York was temporarily closed due to heavy rainstorm in the east particularly in New Jersey and New Hampshire. Thousands of residents in Seattle Washington State and the west were electricity blackout for hours after thunder storm swept through. Hong Kong’s seashore glow by pollution On 22 January, University of Georgia oceanographer Samantha Joye said the Associated Press photos of the glowing water off Hong Kong’s seashore was caused by a single-celled organism called Noctiluca scintillans, nicknamed Sea Sparkle Noctiluca . Its blooms are triggered by farm pollution and can be devastating to marine life and local fisheries. The problem is growing worldwide due to this type of single-cell life eats plankton and is eaten by other species. The plankton and Noctiluca become more abundant when nitrogen and phosphorous from farm run-off increase. Though Noctiluca doesn't directly produce chemicals that can attack the nervous system or parts of the body but recent studies show it is much more complicated and links them to blooms that have been harmful to marine life as it can eventually magnify the accumulation of algae toxins On the same day the government of Brazil announced the worst drought in history was spreading throughout the country and started rationing and rolling power cuts in the area from San Paulo to Rio de Janeiro. The rising of temperature to an average of above 40 degree Celsius and diminishing rainfall caused water in the Paraiba de Soul River went low and inadequacy to supply water into the three biggest dams that produces electricity for at least 16 million people. US east paralyzed after snow storm On 26th January, a heavy snow storm that swept through many states in northeastern part of the US, including New York State, left behind a few feet of blanketed snow. Residents were advised to stay home as all schools and some public places were closed. All kinds of public transport were cancelled including thousands of international and domestic flights. From : http://www.fpps.or.th |