March 2003 : 9 Minister Assistants Appointed The cabinet approved nine appointment of 30 minister assistants. The House set up a joint House-Senate committee to scrutinize the rejected draft bill on Protection of Geographical Indicators. The Senate approved the lethal injection draft bill and chose Suchon Chaliekrau senator from Chaiyaphum province to replace Pichet Pattanachote for first deputy House speaker. The EC filed law suit against 3,579 political parties administrators violated section 42 of the Political Party Law on negligence to declare asset and asked the Constitutional Court to dissolve 10 political parties. Kramol Thongtammachart was voted to chair the Constitutional Court jury panel. 9 Minister Assistants Appointed The cabinet on 11 March approved an appointment of 9 minister assistants from a list of 344 nominations. The 9 appointed minister assistants name are as follow; Mr. Vatchara Pannachet, assistane to Deputy PM Korn Tapparansri. Mr. Kirkrai Jeeraphas, assistant to Minister of Tourism and Atheletic Sondhaya Khunpleum. Mr. Veerasak Kowsurat, assistant to Minister of Social Development and Human Security Anurak Jureemas. Mr. Piyabutr Chonvicharn, assistant to Minister of Commerce Adisai Bhotaramik. Mr. Uttama Saowanayon and Mr. Suwit Mesinsri, assistants to Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak. Mr. Weera Musikapong, assistant to Minister of Interior Wan Muhamad Nor Matha. Mr. Prapas Limprapan, assistant to Minister of Labor Suwat Liptapanlop. Sorachak Kasemsuwan, assistant to Minister of Fpreign Affairs Surakiat Sathienthai. The appointment was instantly effective after the cabinet approval but the cabinet has yet to appoint the remaining 21 assistants to fill total 30 positions in regards to the 2003 PM Office regulation. The opposition party coordination committee [ whip] considered the minister assistants, upon appointment, with obligations to submit their asset declaration to the NCCC but the NCCC meeting contradictory ruled on ground that no such a law specified so because the minister assistant positions were established after the promulgation of the Constitution and NCCC is authorized to inspect their assets instantly without any enforcement if there is an allegation of corruption. Draft Bill on Protection of Geographical Indicators The House, on March 19, voted 288 to 15 to reject the draft bill on Protection of Geographical Indicators amended by the Senate and appointed a joint House-Senate panel to modify the draft. The House reasons that section 3 and 5 which prohibit registration of the "common names" of geographical flora and fauna goods would hurt local wisdom since some local trade names such as jasmine rice, Siamese cat, pat thai noodle etc. would become commonly used by any nation in the future. At least four representatives from agricultural and academic sectors will be presided in the upcoming modification of this draft bill while local people and stake holders comments are also welcome. Senate accepted lethal injection bill The Senate, on March 13, voted 104 to 13 to accept the draft bill on lethal injection as method of execution and appointed a 25 members special panel to deliberate the bill which unanimously passed the House of Rep with a 353 vote after amendment. Suchon for second deputy Senate speaker The Senate meeting, on March 1, chose Chaiyapoom senator, Suchon Chaliekrau, to become second deputy Senate speaker replaces Pichet pattanachote who resigned. Suchon beated his rivals, Gen. Bundit Malaiarisoon from Karnchanaburi and Sak Korsaengreung from Bangkok with 123 to 47 and 25 respectively. Suchon, said he would, like his predecessor, Pichet, resign from the speakership after two years before the term of service end. Asset declaration fraud The Election Commission [ EC] filed lawsuit against 3,579 political party administrators on ground of not submit their asset and liabilities declaration in accord to section 42 of the 1998 Political Party Act. The cases were inspected between September 2002 to February 2003. Section 42 stated the political party leader, administrator and branch committee should submit their asset declaration, together with their spouse and children under 18 years of age, within 30 days after appointment and resignation. Violation is liable to prosecution, minimum of 100,000 baht fine and daily fine of not exceed than 500 baht until submission. New Aspiration Party has most offenders of 1,417 members while Democrat, Chart Prachatippatai, Chart Pattana and Thai Rak Thai have 789, 238, 100 and 2 respectively. 10 Political parties to be dissolved The EC, on March 7, announced their petition to the Constitutional Court to finalize the dissolution order of 10 political parties as follow; 1. Palung Mahachon 2. Sangkom Prachatippatai 3. Chao Thai, on ground that their general meeting was conducted uniformity to the party's regulation. 4. Sangkom Pattana and 5. Thai Mahachon, on ground that unable to attain minimum of 5,000 members and establish regional branch offices within 180 days after registration. 5. Thai Prachatippatai 7. Kasetkorn 8. Tai 9. Umnart Prachachon, on ground of irregularities in spending the political party subsidiary fund. 10 Kae Panha Chart, on ground of self-dissolution due to the party agreement on their general meeting. If the Constitutional Court agrees with the EC to dissolve 10 political parties as requested, there will be 40 parties in active. New Constitutional Court President The jury panel of 15 Constitutional Court panel chose Kramol Thongtammasart to become the new President on March 11. He beat Amorn Raksasat, another runner-up with 8 to 6 score. There were altogether 6 candidates namely; 1. Suwit Theerapong 2. Sichin Boonbongkarn 3. Ura Wang-om-klang 4. Preecha Chalermvanij 5. Amorn and 6. Kramol. The panel meeting was conducted shortly after the Senate has finalized the 4 candidates to fill seats vacated since February due to 4 judges retired.