June 2008 : Prime Minister and Cabinet members survived vote of no confidence Prime Minister and Cabinet members survived vote of no confidence Constitutional Court ruled AEC constitutional Cabinet dropped plan to sell government rice stock PAD re-launched democracy campaign House of Representatives appointed 35 Sub-Committees Draft Budget for 2009 passed first scrutiny Noppadon and Cabinet injuncted over Pra Viharn dispute Thaksin’s lawyers jailed for bribery More financial help for the poorest Women can use maiden name after marriage Tax incentive to spur E85 use Lower rank state employees to get more money Plans to use NGV buses in Bangkok Prime Minister and Cabinet members survived vote of no confidence On 4th June, the Prime Minister and the seven Cabinet members survived the Opposition’s motion of no confidence. The results followed strict party lines as follow: Names Position For-Against Abstention Total Samak Sundaravej Prime Minister 280 -162 0 442 Surapong Seubwonglee Deputy PM and Minister of Finance 279-161 1 441 Mingkwan Sangsuwan Deputy PM and Minister of Commerce 279-161 1 441 Chalerm Yubamrong Minister of Interior 279-162 0 441 Sompong Amornwiwat Minister of Justice 280-162 0 442 Santi Prompak Minister of Transport 279-162 0 441 Songsak Thongsri Deputy Minister of Transport 280-162 0 442 Noppadol Pattama Minister of Foreign Affairs 278-162 1 441 Constitutional Court ruled AEC constitutional Nine members of the Constitutional Court were unanimous that the appointment and term extension of the Asset Examination Commission (AEC) were constitutional because the AEC was only authorized to investigate and not to adjudicate allegations. The matter was referred to the Constitutional Court by the Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions of the Supreme Court when Defendants in the ‘Two and Three Digit Lottery’ case claimed that the AEC, their prosecutor was an illegal entity. After the extension, the AEC’s term ended on 30th June 2008. Pending cases were passed on to the Office of the National Counter Corruption Commission. Cabinet dropped plan to sell government rice stock On 4th June, the Prime Minister and ministers from 11 other ministries gave up the plan to sell rice from government stock as it tended to reduce the price of paddy-rice. Previously, on 29th April, the Cabinet approved a proposal by the Ministry of Commerce to sell government rice stock to alleviate a shortage in the domestic rice market. In addition, the meeting approved the Agriculture Ministry’s project, to be launched by the Agriculture and Cooperative Bank, to secure the price of paddy-rice at Bt 14,000 per ton. PAD re-launched democracy campaign Protesting against the ruling Palang Prachachon party’s Constitutional amendment plan, the People Alliance for Democracy (PAD) launched a campaign on 25th May, to collect the requisite number of signatures to remove MPs who supported the amendment. On their march from the Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnern Avenue to Government House, the protesters were stopped by police at Makkawan Rangsan Bridge. So they decided to settle in for a lengthy protest on the road between the United Nations Office and the Tourism and Sports Ministry. One month later on 20th June, they were joined by members of the State Enterprises Union. Together, they reached and encircled Government House on Pitsanulok Road. House of Representatives appointed 35 Sub-Committees On 27th June, the House of Representatives approved the appointment of 35 House sub-committees. Parties received chairmanships of these committees in proportion to their numbers as follow: Palang Prachachon 17 Democrat 12 Chart Thai 2 Peau Pandin 1 Roem Chai Thai Chart Patana 1, and Machima Tipatai 1 According to House rules, an MP cannot sit on more than 2 sub-committees. Draft Budget for 2009 passed first scrutiny On 28th June, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the 2008 draft Budget and appointed a sub-committee to consider it within 30 days. Noppadon and Cabinet injuncted over Pra Viharn dispute On 27th June, following a petition filed by Suwat Apaipak and Suriyasai Katasila, representatives of the People Alliance for Democract (PAD), the Administration Court granted an interim injunction (pending final order) in the Pra Viharn case. It was to prohibit the Foreign Minister, Noppadon Pattama, and the Cabinet from taking any action to further the Cabinet’s approval of the Thai-Cambodia communiqu supporting Cambodia’s application for Pra Viharn Temple to be added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Thaksin’s lawyers jailed for bribery On 25th June, the Supreme Court of Justice Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions sentenced Pichit Cheunban, Supasri Srisawat and Tana Tansiri, to immediate 6 month prison terms. They were lawyers representing former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife, Khunying Pojaman, in the Ratchadapisek land purchase case which was being heard in court. They were charged with attempted bribery after having offered two million baht to a court official prior to a hearing on 10th June. More financial help for the poorest The National Economic and Social Development Board, the Finance Ministry and the Budget Bureau are planning to give coupons, worth 300-500 baht monthly, to lowest income families to help reduce the current economic burden. The coupons can be used to buy daily needs. Families with children will be first to benefit with the elderly and pensioners second and third target groups. Women can use maiden name after marriage From 4th June, women will have the right to be called “Miss.” or “Mrs.” and to use their own or their husband’s family name after marriage. This right extends to divorced women who can revert to “Miss” if they present their divorce certificate and other required documents to the registrar. Tax incentive to spur E85 use On 3rd June, the Cabinet approved a Finance Ministry’s proposal on energy saving by stimulating the use of E85 gasoline. Import duty on spare parts for E85 vehicles will be revoked and excise duty on E85 gasoline will be reduced from Bt. 3.658 to 2.5795 per liter. Since E85 vehicles are not assembled in the country, import duty on assembled vehicles will be waived for 3 years. E85 gasoline is formulated with 85 percent ethanol content. Lower rank state employees to get more money On 17th June, the Cabinet revised its previous resolution to support lower rank (levels 1-5) state officials by increasing financial assistance from 1,000 to 1,500 baht per person monthly. The resolution is retroactive from 1st May. Plans to use NGV buses in Bangkok On 10th June, the Cabinet noted the plan by the Rail and Mass Transit Development Board to launch 6,000 NGV buses in the Bangkok Metropolitan area. These vehicles are to be leased and not purchased by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority. The Cabinet asked for urgent details on budgetary requirements and implementation schedule. The Transport Minister, Santi Prompak, explained that BMTA already has debts of over 69 billion baht so leasing will offer better capital and cash-flow advantages.