January 2005 : NCCC’s Members to be Tried The Supreme Court’s political section decided the NCCC’s self-approved pay hike guilty and forwarded the case to the attorney-general for prosecution. The cabinet approved in principle to set up an organization to develop special economic zones. The general election application dates ended with only 4 major parties has full 100 party list candidates. BMA governor unveiled first plan to beautify Bangkok canals and streets. PM Thaksin disclosed his administration achievement in 4 years term. NCCC self-approved pay hike The 9 members of the Supreme Court’s political section inquiry panel unanimously ruled on Monday 24 January that there were grounds to a petition which accused commissioners of the National Commission Counter Corruption [ NCCC] of malfeasance self-approved pay rise. The court will pass the ruling to the attorney-general for prosecution within 30 days. If he decides on an indictment, the commissioners will be tried by the Supreme Court’s political section. A maximum guilty verdict could be jail term of 20 years, double the normal sentence by virtue of their official position. Previously the fact-finding panel has investigated into the petition filed by senator Pratin Santiprapop but it was ruled that there was no ground. The Supreme Court then called the judges meeting and the ruling was contradiction. Due to the commissioners now been relieved of their duties the senators want them replaced so the organization performance could continue but even if they quit their jobs, it won’t put an end to the case, nor would rescinding the decision to give themselves a pay rise, because an alleged wrong has been committed. Special economic zone The cabinet meeting on January 11 approved on principle a draft bill to set up an administration body of a special economic zone empower to acquire land and stimulate investment by all means. The administration power comprises of a chairman and 10-member committee. The organization status is similar to a public agency and shall act as a one-stop-service to industrial, agriculture, commercial and tourism development. The bill shall be submitted to the Council of State before resubmit to the cabinet and then send to the parliament. Upon enactment Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand shall be annexed to the authority and the bill could instantly be applicable to Nakorn Nayok new town project, special territorial trade zone and Suvanabhum air port. There were fears that the special economic zone law will overrule several key laws and might contradict to the constituency therefore public referendum should be seek before enactment since it involves national resource and the public-at-large. Furthermore the academics and opposition party protested that the bill was drafted by a regulation drafting committee chaired by Meechai Ruchupan who now chairman of the Council of State’s subcommittee considering the draft bill. There were Election monitoring The Election Commission on January 7-9 and 10-14 consequently accepted application of party list and constituency MP candidates for the next general election scheduled on February 6, 2005. There are total 20 political parties applied for the poll but only 4 namely Thai Rak Thai, Chart Thai, Democrat and Mahachon has a full 100 party list candidates. Candidates comprises of former MPs from both party list and constituency, movie stars, reporters, businessmen and local politicians. Each candidates can spend maximum of 1.5 million baht on polling campaign. It was reported that election campaign was very intensive and there were all kinds of fraud; giving out food and gifts, vote buying and even slaughter of candidates and canvassers. Youth behavior control regulations Cabinet on January 25 approved 2 ministerial regulation drafts proposed by Ministry of Education on controlling the youth’s behavior and rehabilitation means and measure for the youth and parents. The drafts shall be enforced after publish in the royal gazette. The youth controlling regulation shall be applied to all students and youth under 18 year of age. In regards to the regulation all youth are prohibited to 1] drop-out of class without permission 2] gambling or facilitate in gambling 3] armed or carry explosive or harmful weapon 4] buying-selling-trading-consuming alcoholic drinks, cigarettes or drugs. 5] stealing-robbing-threatening-forcing other people 6] fighting or harming other people or conducting an incident that may lead to confrontation, public unrest or immoral 7] showing sexual actions 8] involve in prostitution and 9] assembling or roaming during night time with intention to disturb or harm other people and oneself. The youth rehabilitation regulation shall be a mean and measure for school and teacher to monitor and organize systematic and ongoing activities to rehabilitate and develop the offense student. Parents are to be informed and participate in school rehabilitation program. Plans to make Bangkok better Apirak Kosayodhin, BMA governor, on January 3, unveiled first project to make Bangkok better environment by making 10 parks, 10 streets and 10 canals beautiful. New 10 city parks are to be developed in Tung Si Kun, Don Muang, Tawee Wattana, Ram Indra, Bang Khaen and Pravej districts. 10 canals namely Lod, Bang Lampu, Ong Ang, Wat Rajabopit, Padung Krung Kasem etc. shall be garbage-free and filled with clear water from Chao Phya river and 10 streets namely Ratchaprarop, Phahol Yothin, Phyathai , Viphavadee Rangsit etc. shall be garbage-free and landscaping. More development projects in 2005 are 1] Central Waste Water Treatment project, 2] emergency medical service hotline 199, 3] 30 new Fire Sub-station, 4] construction of pedestrian ways between BTS stations and downtown roads, 5] landscaping along major canals 6] rapid bus network and school bus, 7] 2 nd BMA sport school in Thonburi, 8] 6th electronic library etc. Total budget for 2005 fiscal year is estimated at 4,192 million baht. Government achievement PM Thaksin Shinawatra announce government achievement of his 4 year term on January 5 as follow: Administration; bureaucratic reform such as reengineering-regrouping of ministries and departments and implement civil servants performance evaluation. Economic; economic development schemes such as small-farm debt pending, village and community funds, poor man’s bank and OTOP, which focus the grass root, rural, agriculture, low-end labor groups who are the majority of the people. Social; 30-baht health improvement scheme, drug addicts rehabilitation and intensive drug-trading suppression scheme, suppression of influence persons, on-ground mini lottery, housing projects for the underprivileged. International; becoming a regional leader and be able to aid less-privileged countries. However during his 4 years administration there were many crisis and impediments which had great impact on economic and terrorism; September11, 2001 attack, outbreak of SARS and avian flu, oil crisis, violence in the south and tsunami strike Andaman coastline.