July 2003 : NCCC Dropped Suwit’s Impeachment The National Counter Corruption Commission [NCCC] voted on Deputy Prime Minister Suwit Khunkitti impeachment charged relating to the delay in education reform. The Human Rights Commission will propose a bill to delay imprisonment of pregnant offenders. Former Education Inspector Parinya Kruaithong won Surin by-election and the Committee on Decentralization of Power awarded 500 millionzzzZZ๒ baht to 258 local administrations. Graft jury split on Suwit’s guilt The NCCC voted 4-4 to drop impeachment charges on Deputy PM Suwit Khunkitti relating to delay in education reform when he was the minister responsible in 2001 and 2002. After the censure debate on May 2002 the opposition party submitted impeachment motion of nine ministers including Suwit Khunkitti in accords to article 303 and 304 of the Constitution to the Senate and the cases were forwarded to the NCCC. The eight charges were ruled previously and all eight ministers were cleared. On July 9 the NCCC jury voted tally of 4-4 failed to muster the two-thirds majority needed to indict Suwit therefore he was saved from facing impeachment charges. Imprisonment delay due to pregnancy The Human Rights Sub-Commission on Youth and Human Rights chaired by Khunying Chantanee Santabutr has an idea to submit a draft bill on delaying imprisonment or execution of female offenders who are pregnant or having a 1-3 years old child. The panel visited more than 10 jails nationwide and saw the congested conditions particularly some 1000 female inmates taking care of their babies. The environment will definitely have an impact on the child development and behavior when they grow up. The panel will study similar legislation in other countries and open for public opinions before choosing the right conclusion for Thailand. Surin senatorial by-election The Election Commission announced that Parinya Kruaithong, former Education Inspector, won the senatorial seat for Surin in the July 13 by-election. He received 172,147 votes while his second runner-up Wantanin Tangtaweesith, former lord mayor, got 161,503. 509,762 out of 961,062 or 53.04 percent of the eligible voters came to cast their ballots and the formal announcement is due soon. 500 MB reward for efficient local bodies The Commission on Decentralization of Power of the Interior Ministry handed-out 500 million baht rewards of the 2002 subsidiary budget to best governance practice local administrations ; provincial, municipalities and tambon administrations. Five factors were considered on 1] Moral and justice 2] responsibility 3] transparency and accountability 4] public participation and 5] efficiency. 258 bodies to be awarded are 1] Prachin Buri province 2] Kampaeng Phet provinve 3] Satun province 4] Chieng Rai municipal 5] Trang municipal 6] Khon Kaen municipal 7] Tambon Thamasala municipal 8] Tambon Phraksa municipal and other 225 tambon administrations.