January 2003 : Payment Recall in the Houses Office of the Secretariat of the House of Representatives is submitting a letter to members and former members of the two houses to recall their payment and other remunerations total 50 million baht in accords to section 97 of the Constitution. Pol. Maj. Gen. Seksan Unsamran, former Sa Keo Chief Police Officer was elected to the House of Senate. NCCC agreed to investigate on the EC 55 million baht vehicles procurement. The Human Rights Commission set up a panel to investigate Thai-Malaysia gas pipeline violence and the Administration Court overruled the selection process of the National Telecommunication Commission and National Broadcasting Commission void to restart the selection process. Thai Embassy and many Thai enterprises burned down during riots in Panomphen. Senators and MPs payment recall Office of the Secretariat of the House is submitting letters to 32 members and former members of the House of Reps and Senate to recall payment received during their terms of services before the Election Commission ruled void of their elections. Total sum of the money is approximately 50 million baht. The recall is accordingly to section 97 of the Constitution, stated the House or Senate member should return their emolument or other remuneration upon termination of their position affected by the decision of the Constitutional Court. Among the 32 recalls on ground of election fraud some are re-elected to the Houses but they have to return their payment previously received before the EC’s ruled. Some members said the recall is unfair due to they did no wrong and they are unable to return the money so they would ask the Constitutional Court to overrule the case. Sa Kaew senate election The January 26th Sa Kaew senate poll was unofficially announced by the EC that Pol. Maj. Seksan Unsamran, former police chief with close relation to Sanoh Thienthong, Thai Rak Thai advisor, won the election to replaced the late Lt. Gen. Kovit Patthakayon who passed away of heart attack. Seksan received 107,759 votes from the total of 182,740, 48.52 percent of the 376,650 eligible voters, who came to cast their ballots. Unless a veto, the EC will officially announce the election result within one month. NCCC to investigate on EC procurement The National Counter Corruption Commission [NCCC] voted 5 to 4 to investigate the petition on Vijit U-Suparp, Secretariat to the Office of the Election Commission, on his irregularity in the procurement of 75 pick-up vehicles cost 55 million baht. The petition was submitted by the Office of the State Audit after they founded that Toyota Motor Thailand Co. Ltd. whose lowest offer lost their bid to Isuzu Siam City Co. Ltd. because the latter revised their offer after the bid was disclosed. The EC claimed that Toyota disadvantages are on fuel consumption, higher cost of spare-parts and maintenance but the State Audit considered the decision was unjustice. Meanwhile the NCCC investigation, the EC will set up a panel to reinvestigate the case. A panel to investigate gas pipeline violence The Human Rights Commission agreed to set up a sub-committee chaired by Dr. Pradit Chareonthaitawee to investigate the violence of the gas pipeline crackdown on December 20th in front of the J.B. Hotel in Had Yai. Dr. Pradit is a member of the 13 Human Right Commissioners. The Commission received a petition from Banchong Na-Sae, one of the twelve protestors arrested in the incidence. Banchong also attached a video tape taken during the protest until the police crackdown. On January 24th, the Songkla public prosecutor filed lawsuit on the 12 protestors on 6 charges; 1.] Creating unrest. 2.] Disobey the officers command to dissolve public gathering. 3.] Attaching the officers. 4.] Causing casualties to the officers. 5.] Destroying public properties, and 6.] Carrying weapons in public places. Selection of NTC and NBC void The Administrative Supreme Court overruled the selection process of the National Telecommunication Commission [ NTC] and National Broadcasting Commission [ NBC] void on January 10 and 13 respectively on ground that the process lack inadequate criteria, standard and justification. The judgement therefore restart the selection processes to begin with the submission of candidates to be selected to 14 to be finalized to 7, each, by the Senate. The case was brought to court by Mr. Pramut Suthabutr and Mr. Pittaya Wongkul, NTC and NBC candidates respectively and the Administrative Primary Court ruled that the selection process were unjustified. The Selection panels appealed to the Administrative Supreme Court which overruled so in favor to the Primary Court. Thai Embassy burned down The Thai Embassy in Panomphen were burned down on January 29 during a riot of more than 1,000 Khmers. Casualties included destructive of Thai business and some few injuries. Prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra sent the air force planes and commandos to evacuate Thais in Panomphen and minimize the two countries diplomacy to charge de’ affaires level. The Cambodian ambassador was sent back as well as demanding the wrong-doer to be prosecution and also compensation from the Cambodian government. The PM’s decision satisfied the public including Mr. Chuan Leekpai, the Democrat opposition party leader who expressed his support. The Panomphen riot took place after the Cambodian’s Rasami Ankor newspaper published about Ms. Suwanan Khongyong, the young Thai star, assaulted Cambodia in her interview about Ankor Wat. The newspaper quoted Ms. Suwanan saying that Ankor Wat used to belong to Thai. Though Ms. Suwanan, later on, denied her allegation but the incident went out of control after rumors were spread that Cambodian ambassador and some Khmers in Thailand were killed. After the incident, the Cambodian government sent their condolence and promised to pay compensation, unconditionally, and agreed to bring the wrong-doer to prosecution. They also invited Thais to sit in the investigation panel while the Rasami Ankor editor publicly apologized that the article was published without any verification.