June 2003 : Integration of TAOs Recommended The House Extraordinary Sub-Committee study on Local Government Re-organization recommended integration of Tambon Administration Authorities. The Constitutional Court ruled married women have right to maintain their maiden surname while the NCCC agreed that Panya Tantiyawong, President of the State Audit Committee violated article 157 of the criminal code and guilty of malfeasance. Surin senate by-election scheduled on July 13 after Kasem Rungtanakiat resigned. Tanet Kraurat of TRT won Sri Sa Ket by-election. The Human Right Commission revealed a conclusion of the gas pipeline violation study and Democrat Party announced implementation plan focuses on education policy. Numbers of TAO to be reduced The House Extraordinary Sub-Committee study on Local Government organizations, chaired by Pairote Suwanchawee, TRT Nakorn Ratchasrima MP, recommended integration of Tambon Administration Authorities by upgrade first and second class authorities to municipals and unite third, forth and fifth class in order to reduce approximately 2,000 and gain financial benefit . However, the integration should be implemented after public referendum. Public brainstorming would be accordingly organized and King Prachatipok Institute will conclude the seminars outcome and made further recommendations on restructuring and re-authorization of local government organizations. The conclusion will be submitted to the House via Local Government Restructure Committee. Previously, the Committee designated 4 task force groups to study on; 1] Relationship between regional level agencies and role and inter-relationships and intra-relationships of kamnans and village chiefs to local government agencies. 2] Structural organization 3] Relationship among central-regional-local budgeting administration and promoting efficiency in local budgeting system 4] Problems on decentralization and implementation of BMA restructure. Freedom of the married women The Constitutional Court ruled 13 to 2 that article 12 of the Name Act B.E. 2505 violates Section 30 of the Constitution on human rights and liberties therefore after this July 6th all married women have right to maintain their maiden surname or use their husbands’ family names. The rule also applies to women married before an effective date to change their surname back as well as children’s right are to use either of their parents family name. The case was submitted to the Constitutional Court by Ms Panintra Pakkasem, Cheingmai TRT MP, via the Ombudsman. The Court articulated that article 12 violated human rights and liberties by enforcing women to change their surname after married. Human being should be equally free to identify their race and root no matter sex they are. This sexual discrimination should be abandoned to basically safeguard human rights and liberties. NCCC ruled SAC president guilty The National Counter Corruption Commission [ NCCC] ananimously ruled on July 7 that Panya Tantiyawong, President of the State Audit Committee [SAC], guilty of malfeasance in presenting un-qualified candidates for the Office of the State Audit Commission [OSAC]. The guilt is accord to article 157 of the Criminal Code. Previously, Mr. Pratan Darpetch, a candidate to the OSAC, filed at the NCCC that the selection process was not in accord to regulations due to three persons, instead of one, were nominated to the senate finalize. Pratan cited that while he received the top mark, 5, the other two candidates, Khunying Jaruwan Methaka, 3, and Mr. Nontapol Nimsomboon, nil, should not be nominated. Upon the Senate vote Khunying Jaruwan chief of the OSAC, Panya should be responsible for his misconduct. The NCCC will forward the case to the Supreme Attorney to file lawsuit against Panya Tantiyawong. Surin Senator resigned Kasem Rungtanakiat, Senator from Surin province submitted a resignation to the Senate Speaker on July 4 on ground that his faith in TRT administration made him unable to be neutral and effeciently performing his senatorial functions in accords to the Constitution therefore he would like to resign to prepare himself for the upcoming general MP election. July 13 was dated for by-election and application is between July 21-25. It is estimated that this by-election would cost 20 million baht. Kasem resignation drew critiques from several parties; senators, MPs, academics and the public, on ground that by putting his personal interest ahead of public Kasem is wasting public finance. Sri Sa Ket bye-election Tanet Kraurat, TRT candidate beated Mana Mahasuvirachai, Democrat, with 45,166 to 20,920 in the Sri Sa Ket bye-election in constituency 1 on June 1. There were 70,832 persons or 62 percent of the eligible voters came to cast their ballots, 1,236 ballots were invalid and the other 1,289 no vote. Human Rights Commission’s conclusion The Human Rights Commission announced their study on the gas pipeline crack down that police officials use violence in dissolving protesters. The incidence took place in Had Yai District, Songkla Province on December 20, 2002 when the police crack down a group of protesters of the Thai-Malaysian Gas Pipeline Project. The study revealed that the police violated human rights in accord to the Constitution and the government should remedy physical, mental and asset damage and terminate any law suit procedure within 30 days. The case was brought to the HRC by Banchong Na Sae, 1 of the 12 leaders of the protesting under police pressed charged. The Commission appointed a sub-committee to investigate the case. The Human Rights Commission will submit the study to the government for further consideration. Democrat Party declaration The Democrat Party executive seminars in Hua Hin and Chiengmai on June 5 and 29 respectively announced 3 key issues; 1] Establishing a special center to monitor corruption and malfeasance in government administration 2] Expanding party branch nationwide, and 3] Designation of public policies. The party also redesigned its vision focuses on 1] Education-Social-Culture as priority to economy through the project “One Household, One Degree” 2] Supporting human as economic power, and 3] Promoting participatory democracy 4] Administration through participation and balancing of power , swiftly but surely and 5] Social invention: learning and self-sustaining society. The implementation plan will be adopted before August 1 and a party committee on assessment and evaluation shall meet every 3 months.