August 2004 : New BMA Governor Democrat candidate was voted to be the new BMA governor. The Senate picked 7 NTC members and voted Sahas Pinthuseni, Sa Kaew senator, to return to the position of deputy speaker. Chart Pattana party merger with Thai Rak Thai. Eleven candidates applied in Constitutional Court judge selection and former MP Poonpol Asavahame barred from politics for 5 years. New BMA governor Apirak Kosayodhin, Democrat candidate, becomes Bangkok Metropolitan Authority governor on August 29 after he won 911,411 votes while his closest rival, Paweena Hongsakul, received 619,039. The third, fourth and fifth runner-up are Chuwit Kamolvisit 334,168, Chalerm Yubamrung 165,761 and Nithipoom Naowarat 135,369. Total voter turnout, the most of all among the past, is 2,472,476 ballots from 3,955,855 eligible voters, equivalent to 62.50 percent. Senators picked up NTC members The Senate picked up 7 members of the National Telecommunication Commission [ NTC] namely; Gen. Chuchart Promprasit, a former chairman of the joint chief-of-staff attached to a supreme commander, who won the most votes with 168. Atorn Chantawimon, a former director-general of the Informal Education Department, with 148 votes. Sutham Yunaitham, an associate professor of law at Chulalongkorn University, with 141 votes, Sethaporn Kusripitak, a former director-general of the Telegraph Department, with 126 votes. Suchart Suchartwetchapum, director-general of the Public Relations Department, with 117 votes. Prasit Prapinmongkolkarn, a professor of engineering at Chulalongkorn University, with 117 votes. Rianchai Riowilaisook, director-general of the Telegraph Department, with 111 votes. Article 40 of the Constitution empowered NTC to set service standards and pricing, award licenses and hold overall regulatory authority of the country’s telecom system. On January 2004 Thaksin administration appointed a selection committee to shortlist 14 NTC candidates for the Senate to finalize to 7 but a petition was submitted to the Administrative Court on ground that the selection process is not transparent. The Court ruled in favor and the selection process restart, took two years before NTC members appointed. Chart Pattana merger with TRT The general assembly of 256 members of Chart Pattana party on August 28 unanimously agreed to dissolve and merger with Thai Rak Thai party. The reasons were given that the party agrees TRT policies and PM Thaksin’s popularity. Meanwhile, TRT administrative committee endorsed on the merger and the next process is to submit the decision to the political party registrar to forward to the Constitutional Court within 50 days in accords to article 73 of the Constitution organic law. 11 candidates for Constitutional Court judge The Office of the Constitutional Court announced the application dates of Constitutional Court judge between August 19-25 to replace a vacant seat of Suchit Boonbongkan whose term terminated. There were 11 applicants namely; Suchit Boonbongkan, former judge. Wimut Boachan, deputy governor, Samutprakan Boonplug Chaiket, former secretary-general of the Civil Servant Office Tawatchai Satheinnam, Lampoon governor Noppadon Hengcharoen, secretary-general to the office of the Constituional Court Pol Lt. Gen. Mongkol Kamonbutr, former police chief of Administrative Department Wichit Yusuparb, former secretary-general of Election Commission. Jaidet Pornchaiya, deputy supreme attorney Jaroon Inthajarn, Supreme Court judge Pol. Lt. Gen. Pirom Boonrodpanich, Office of the Police Bureau Chaiyaporn Rattaka, Udorn Thani governor The selection committee will shortlist 2 candidates to be chosen by the Senate. Sahas returned as deputy Senate speaker The Senate on August 30 chose Sa Kaew senator, Sahas Pinthuseni with 108 votes to return to the position of deputy speaker over Seri Suwanapanond from Bangkok who received 82 votes. Mr. Sahas resigned on August 17 due to his promise to resign after 2 years of taken position. Poonpol barred from politics The Constitutional Court voted 13 to 1 in ruling that Poonpol Asavahame former Samutprakan MP had presented the National Counter Corruption Commission [NCCC] with false asset and liability statements. He is banned to politics for 5 years retroactive to February 18, 2001, when he left the job of secretary to a Prime Minister’s Office minister.