December 2008 : New Year’s wish from His Majesty the King New Year’s wish from His Majesty the King Abhisit Vejjajiva is 27th prime minister. Parliament Assembly venue changed after access blocked New Year spending dropped NCCC’s work hampered Civil Service system to change Four million baht given to 7th October victims Design-Construction process of new Parliament started Court examining witnesses in Taksin’s asset case District scholarships delayed University fees frozen this year New Year’s wish from HM the King On 31st December 2008, His Majesty the King thanked the people for their participation in the funeral of his sister, Princess Kalyani Wattana. For the New Year, he reminded them to be careful, thoughtful and mindful. He also wished health, happiness and prosperity the people for the New Year. Abhisit Vejjajiva is 27th Prime Minister On 17th December, His Majesty gave his approval for Democrat Party leader, Abhisit Vejjajiva, to become the 27th Prime Minister and the following Cabinet members were appointed: Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban (Deputy Prime Minister) Mr. Korbsak Sabhavasu (Deputy Prime Minister) Major General Sanan Kajornprasart (Deputy Prime Minister) Mr. Satit Wongnongtaey (Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office) Mr. Virachai Virameteekul (Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office) General Prawit Wongsuwon (Minister of Defence) Mr. Korn Chatikavanij (Minister of Finance) Mr. Pradit Phataraprasit (Deputy Minister of Finance) Mr. Pruttichai Damrongrat (Deputy Minister of Finance) Mr. Kasit Piromya (Minister of Foreign Affairs) Mr. Chumpol Silapa-archa (Minister of Tourism and Sports) Mr. Witoon Nambutr (Minister of Social Development and Human Security) Mr.Theera Wongsamut (Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives) Mr. Chartchai Pookayaporn (Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives) Mr. Sophon Zaram (Minister of Transport) Mr. Prajak Glawgraharn (Deputy Minister of Transport) Mr. Kuerkul Danchaivichit (Deputy Minister of Transport) Mr. Suwit Khunkitti (Minister of Natural Resources and Environment) Second Lieutenant Ranongruk Suwunchwee (Minister of Information and Communication Technology) Mr. Wannarat Channukul (Minister of Energy) Mrs. Porntiva Nakasai (Minister of Commerce) Mr. Alongkorn Ponlaboot (Deputy Minister of Commerce) Mr. Chavarat Charnvirakul (Minister of Interior) Mr. Boonjong Vongtrirat (Deputy Minister of Interior) Mr. Thaworn Senneam (Deputy Minister of Interior) Mr. Pirapan Salirathavibhaga (Minister of Justice) Mr. Phaithoon Kaewthong (Minister of Labour) Mr. Teera Slukpetch (Minister of Culture) Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich (Minister of Science and Technology) Mr. Jurin Laksanawisit (Minister of Education) Mr. Chaiwuti Bannawat (Deputy Minister of Education) Ms. Narisara Chavaltanpipat (Deputy Minister of Education) Mr. Witthaya Keawparadai (Minister of Public Health) Mr. Manit Nopamornbodee (Deputy Minister of Public Health) Mr. Chanchai Chairungruang (Minister of Industry) On 22nd December, His Majesty granted an audience to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet in which he asked them to bring peace and happiness to the country. His Majesty also reminded them that top-ranking people have more opportunity to do harm and to destroy the country. These events followed a previous Constitutional Court ruling, on 2nd December, to dissolve three coalition parties, Palang Prachachon, Chart Thai and Matchima Tipatai, and to purge their executive members of political rights. Under Section 182 paragraph 1 (5) of the Constitution, this sentence terminates the tenure of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and his Cabinet. The Speaker of the House of Representatives called a Parliamentary Convention on 15th December. Two MPs out of those remaining, Abhisit Vejjajiva from the Democrat Party and Pol. Gen. Pracha Promnok from Paeu Pandin Party, were nominated to become the next prime minister. Abhisit won with 235 to 198 votes to become the 27th Prime Minister of Thailand. The new Prime Minister asked his Cabinet to serve the country under the following guidelines: to be mindful of the King’s advice, to have integrity, honesty, transparency and fairness, to work with efficiency, unity and responsiveness, to avoid political confrontation, to attend regular parliamentary sessions, to encourage public participation, to be attentive to social feedback and the likelihood of being replaced for under-performance or obstruction to Cabinet’s resolutions, to be aware of being public figures who are under continuous monitoring and tests, to have no special privileges and obey the laws Parliament Assembly venue changed after access blocked On 30th December, the Speaker of the House of Representatives ordered a meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly to convene in a building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after access to the House was blocked by pro-Taksin demonstrators. These demonstrators gathered in Sanam Luang on 28th December, moved to the House on 29th and remained there until 30th intending to prevent the government from stating policies to Parliament as required by the Constitution. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared the following policy objectives to the Parliament Assembly: to protect and respect the institution of the monarchy, to achieve reconciliation in the nation, to ease the economic crisis and revitalize the economy and to develop and stabilize democracy and politics He also stated that certain matters needed to be implemented urgently within the first year, these are: To establish a permanent agency to bring peace and development to the four Southern provinces through political reform and local participation. To establish short term plans for agriculture, industry, services, tourism, export, real estate, rural employment and income, and water resources development, within 31st January 2009. To start training for 500,000 unemployed within 1 year. To increase loans to the elderly to 30,000 baht per person. To set up self-sufficiency economic fund. To set up the National Agricultural Council. To set up the Economic Ministers Committee. However, the Parliament Assembly was convened with only 311 members as the Opposition Party refused to attend. New Year spending dropped The Center of Economic and Business Forecast of the Thai Trades University revealed a survey, conducted nation-wide on 17th-22nd December amongst 1,176 consumers that public spending during the New Year is lower than in previous years due to the lack of job security. The people wished for economic improvement, job security and income, reconciliation within the nation, government stability, peace in the Southern Provinces , security in lives and possession, and good trading Public spending during the New Year is normally 2-3 times higher than annual GDP growth rate. This New Year, it is estimated that spending will be only 76,528 million baht which is equivalent to 3-3.5 % of the forecast 2008 GDP growth rate. NCCC’s work hampered The National Counter Corruption Committee disclosed that in 2008 they were unable to seize any asset from offenders due to delayed appointment of the Working Committee. Under Section 49 of the Money Laundering Act, the Working Committee is responsible to investigate, to conclude and to submit petition to the Attorney-General to consider whether to bring a matter to Court. Between 27th October and 31st December 2007, the NCCC submitted 696 cases, totaled of 4,125 million baht, to the Attorney-General and the Court passed sentence to seize assets worth 1,804 million baht in 404 cases and dismissed 16 cases, worth 347 million baht. A total of 386 out of 404 cases were related to drugs and the seized assets were worth 1,395 million baht. Civil Service system to change After 33 years operation, the “Common Level” or “C” system of the civil service is to be revised and the new system will have only 4 function categories instead of the previous 11 levels. These categories are executive, administrative, academic and generalist. The first two categories will have 2 levels, while the third and fourth will have 5 and 4 levels respectively. The Office of the Civil Service Committee said that this change will create more efficiency in all state agencies. Four million baht given to 7th October victims The Minister of Social development and Human Security, Witoon Nambutr, disclosed on 28th December that 98 victims from the 29th August, 2nd September and 7th October incidents received compensation totaled 4,020,000 baht from the ministry. However, there were only 139 persons registered with the ministry, the rest will be asked to come to receive their money by 15th January 2009. Total casualties during three days unrest in 2008 were reported to be 3 deaths and 612 injuries. The Somchai Administration decided these people shall receive compensation as follows: Minor injuries that required no in-patient treatment – 20,000 baht. In-patient treatments of less than 20 days- 60,000 baht. Serious injuries that required more than 20 day in-patient treatments – 100,000 baht. Disability leading to inability to work – 200,000 baht. Death – 400,000 baht. Design-Construction process of new Parliament started On 28th December, the Land Appraisal and Negotiation Committee of the new Parliament said that 5 design firms have been commissioned at one million baht each to submit primary designs for the new Parliament building. Only one firm will be chosen to do detail design, costing 475 million baht or 2.5% of total construction cost. The Samak Administration had approved 19 billion baht for the construction of the new Parliament House on military land on Kiak Kai Road scheduled to be completed in five years. Land appropriation and relocation requires 4,000 million baht from the 2008 fiscal budget and construction is expecting to start in 2 years. Court examining witnesses in Taksin’s asset case On 25th December, the Supreme Court of Political Positions Holders scheduled 26th 27th and 30th March 2009 as dates for examining witnesses in the Taksin Shinawatra frozen assets case. Both sides are to submit lists of their witnesses no less than 7 days before the scheduled examination dates. The Attorney-General sued Taksin Shinawatra for his unusual wealth which led to the freezing of his family’s 76 billion baht bank accounts. If the Court decides against him, the money, capital sum and interests, will be taken by the Public Treasury. District scholarships delayed On 3rd December, the District Scholarship Committee announced that the 3rd year of district scholarships will be delayed because the budget had not been approved by the government. The Education Ministry proposed to use 180 million baht from the 2008 central budget and 4,900 million baht in the next 7 years to send one student from each district to study abroad. The method, the means and the criteria for receiving these scholarships would be revised and scholars will have to work in the public sector when their studies are completed. University fees frozen this year On 8th December, the meeting of national university rectors decided to freeze next year academic fees at current levels to help ease economic problems. Scholarships, short term training programs and employment in the universities will be further provided in addition to current educational loans.