February 2008 : King asked Cabinet to work for common good. King asked Cabinet to work for common good Thaksin returned to Thailand and vowed to quit politics Election Commission ‘red-card’ Yongyut for buying votes Central Bank removed 30% capital control Cabinet appointed 5 new committees to push government policy Twenty nine bills awaiting Samak Cabinet’s approval ASC asked for indictment of 45 in the sapling case NESDB adjusted GDP to 4.5-5.5% TAT must refund 3 year back bonus Thai PBS hired 760 employees New Amended Teacher Law in force Constitutional Tribunal rejected NLA’s three bills for lack of quorum King asked Cabinet to work for common good. On 6th February, His Majesty the King, on the occasion of the new Cabinet swearing-in prior to taking office, asked the members to work for the benefit of the country. He said that it may be difficult, but it was achievable and they cannot disappoint the people. “To do good is honourable, you are honoured to be objects of the people’s expectation. As ministers, you can work for the common good. You are honourable to have sworn to work for the common good; therefore, you must try to live up to your vows.” The full list of 36 strong Cabinet is as follows: Prime Minister Mr. Samak Sundaravej Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Somchai Wongsawat Mr. Mingkwan Sangsuwan Dr. Surapong Suebwonglee Mr. Suwit Khunkitti Mr. Sahas Banditkul Major General Sanan Kajornprasart Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Mr. Jakrapob Penkair Mr. Chousak Sirinil Minister of Defence Mr. Samak Sundaravej Minister of Finance Dr. Surapong Suebwonglee Deputy Finance Ministers Pradit Phataraprasit 2nd Lieutenant Ranongrak Suwanchawee Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Noppadon Pattama Minister of Tourism and Sports Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat Minister of Social Development and Human Security Mr. Sutha Chansaeng Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Mr. Somsak Prisananuntagul Deputy Agriculture Ministers Mr. Somphat Kaewpijit Mr. Theerachai Saenkaew Minister of Transportation Mr. Santi Promphat Deputy Transportation Ministers Mr. Songsak Thongsri Mr. Anurak Chureemas Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Mrs. Anongwan Thepsutin Minister of Information and Communication Technology Mr. Mun Patanotai Minister of Commerce Mr. Mingkwan Sangsuwan Deputy Commerce Minister Mr. Viroon Tejapaibul Police Lieutenant Colonel Bunyin Tangpakorn Minister of Energy Lieutenant General Poonpirom Liptapanlop Minister of Interior Police Captain Dr.Chalerm Ubumrung Deputy Interior Ministers Mr. Suphon Fong-ngam Mr. Sittichai Khowsurat Minister of Justice Mr. Sompong Amornwiwat Minister of Labour Mrs. Uraiwan Thienthong Minister of Culture Mr. Anusorn Wongwan Minister of Science and Technology Mr. Wuttipong Chaisang Minister of Education Mr. Somchai Wongsawat Deputy Education Minister Mr. Pongsakorn Unnopporn Mr. Boonlue Prasertsopa Minister of Public Health Mr. Chaiya Sasomsup Deputy Public Health Minister Mr. Chavarat Charnvirakul Minister of Industry Mr. Suwit Khunkitti Thaksin returned to Thailand and vowed to quit politics. Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra returned to Thailand on 28th February announcing that he is returning to prove his innocence and to redeem his tarnished reputation. He confirmed that he will stay out of politics but was saddened that on his return he had to be finger-printed like a criminal. On 19th September 2007, while attending a UN meeting in New York, the former Prime Minister was deposed in a coup led by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin. Now he returned to Thailand for the first time after 17 months. Election Commission ‘red-card’ Yongyut for buying votes On 26th February, following a finding of election fraud in its sub-committee’s investigative report, the Election Commission, led by Apichart Sukhagganond, voted 3:2 to disqualify Yongyut Tiyapairat, House Speaker and Zone 1 party list-MP from People Power Party (PPP). The Election Commission also ordered a re-election [or a warning] for La-ong Tiyapairat, sister of Yongyut and Zone 3 Chieng Rai MP for PPP Yongyut denied the allegation of buying votes. He accused third parties of attacking him as means to getting People Power Party dissolved. Central Bank removed 30% capital control On 29th February, the Bank of Thailand announced the removal of the 30 percent capital control effective on 3rd March. The one-year 30 percent withholding on many types of capital inflows was implemented on 18th December 2006, in part to help maintain the competitiveness of Thai exports by restraining the value of the baht. The Ministry of Finance will also immediately pay off US $3,000 million of foreign debts and issue bonds worth 12,000 million baht aimed at small investors. Cabinet appointed 5 new committees to push government policy On 26th February, the Cabinet resolved to appoint five new committees to supervise and drive government policies. All five committees will be chaired by the Prime Minister. It is estimated that projects overseen by these committees will be worth approximately 1.5 trillion baht over 4 years. Funds will come from State budget, foreign and domestic loans as well as public private partnerships. The five new committees are: 1. Committee to develop air transport system and airports 2. Committee to develop rail and public transport systems 3. Committee to develop and to manage water resources and irrigation 4. Committee to develop educational system, and 5. Committee to develop public health insurance system Twenty nine bills awaiting Samak Cabinet’s approval Prior to the general election, on 21st December 2007, the National Legislative Assembly ceased considering draft bills. Since that time, there are 29 bills awaiting legislative approval, which, if not forthcoming by the new government by 21st March 2008, will automatically lapse. Section 153, subsection 2 of the Constitution stipulates that when Parliamentary terms end or Parliament has been dissolved, after the election, if the new Cabinet request it within 60 days from the opening of Parliament (after the election) and Parliament agrees, the Parliament, House of Representatives, or Senate, whichever as the case may be, may consider any pending bills. The National Legislative Assembly which met for the last time on 29th February 2008, concluded it met altogether 95 times, in which it acted as a Parliament 93 times and as a Senate twice, taking altogether 513 hours 37 minutes. It approved 218 bills and 1 royal ordinance, answered 48 live interrogations, 43 general interrogations and considered 100 topics in sub-committees reports. ASC asked for indictment on 45 in sapling case On 4th February 2008, the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) following a recommendation of its sub-committee agreed that the Office of the Attorney-General would be asked to indict 45 people (out of total 90 investigated) for involvement in the alleged illegal bidding for the State’s 90 million rubber sapling distribution contract. NESDB adjusted GDP to 4.5-5.5% The Office of the National Economics and Social Development Board (NESDB) adjusted its economic forecast for B.E. 2551 to increase by 4.5-5.5%, against a previous increase of 4.5%. Export and domestic investment will be main driving forces. GDP increased every quarter in 2550; in the last quarter by 5.7%, higher than the previous three quarters which averaged 4.4%. Therefore, annual GDP for 2550 increased by 4.8%, against estimated 4.5%. Net export and private investment together with governmental expenditure being on target were the reasons. The Board forecasts that the trend for rising increases will continue in 2551. TAT must refund 3 year back bonus The Council of State ruled that the Tourism Authority of Thailand must return to the Ministry of Finance bonuses paid to its employees during years 2546-2548, total 150 million baht. This is because those payments were made contrary to the Labour Relations Law. The Governor of TAT had misunderstood the law, and bonus was only authorised especially in 2545, in subsequent years the Board of TAT continued the payments. The Council of State agreed with the Ministry of Finance’s claim that the Tourism Authority of Thailand must refund these bonuses of almost 150 million baht or two months annual salary per person because the payments were made contrary to the Labour Relations Law. Labour Relations Law states that Boards of State Enterprises are authorised to pay (salaries) and set conditions of employment for its own employees but they are not authorised to pay for work compensation (bonuses). Therefore, Boards’ decisions to pay bonuses in 2546-2548 were illegal and the payments must be refunded to the Ministry. Prior to 2545, TAT never paid bonuses because it was a non-profit State Enterprise. Currently TAT has 950 employees who received those bonuses. Thai PBS hired 760 employees Thepchai Yong, Director of the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS), announced that it had already hired 760 employees including: Nitaya Waewvirakupt, a former TITV rebel, as Head of Social and Community News Sermsook Kasittipradit, a former editor of the Bangkok Post Newspaper, as Head of Political News, Botrat Botbharma, as Head of Investigation News, and Chairat Tumya, as Head of Foreign News. As for the trial broadcast started on 15th January 2008, results were very satisfactory, the evening documentary which was broadcasted at the same time as soap, on some days the rating was as high as 2.5. Thai PBS has become a new option for the public. The broadcasting schedule starting on 15th February, it will be completed on 11th February and there will be news, family, and community programmes. New Amended Teacher Law in force An amended Office of Teaching Civil Servants and Teaching Personnel Law concerning regulations for teachers and others in the teaching profession came into force on 21st February. It amends the previous by increasing the number of main Board members from 21 to 28. It also empowers the Office of Teaching Civil Servants and Teaching Personnel to temporarily stop the operation of local offices where they are not acting according to regulations. Current main and local Board members are to continue in office until expiry of their terms. New members are to be elected or selected within 180 days after the amendment comes into force and their terms are to coincide with those of the existing Boards. Constitutional Tribunal rejected NLA’s three bills for lack of quorum On 19th February 2008, the Constitutional Tribunal rejected three bills passed by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) because when NLA purported to have passed those bills, it lacked the required quorum contrary to Article 126 of the Constitution. The three bills are: The Parliamentary Ombudsman Bill, The National Counter-Corruption Bill and the Auditor-General Bill. In any event, the three independent agencies and the Cabinet are entitled to re-submit the relevant bills.