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 March 2009 : Government sailed though no-confidence motion
Government sailed though no-confidence motion On 21st March, the Prime Minister and five Cabinet members survived the Opposition’s motion of no confidence with majority votes, or more than 233 which is half of the current members (465) from a total of 480, as required by the Constitution. Each of them received votes as follows:
The motion of no confidence was based on the following allegations: The Prime Minister sent thank you SMS messages to mobile phone holders after he won parliamentary votes to become Prime Minister. This was alleged to be wrong because:
The Deputy Finance Minister, Pradit Patraraprasit, was accused of violating the Election Act and the Stock Exchange Act, in that while he was the Democrat Party Secretary, he was alleged to have concealed a 258 million baht donation that the Party was supposed to have received from TPI Polene Plc. The Minister of Finance, Korn Chatikavanij was accused of failing to resolve the economic crisis and to have cooperated with the Prime Minister in sending the SMS. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kasit Pirom was accused of acting criminally by joining with the People Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in the seizure of Suvarnabhumi Airport in November 2008. The Interior Minister, Chawarat Charnweerakul was accused of malfeasance in appointing high ranking officials and distributed his party’s application forms during his official visit to Udorn Thani. The Deputy Interior Minister, Boonchong Wongkrairat was accused of interfering in local authority’s budget in order to provide benefits to himself and his associates. The Opposition, Paue (For) Thai Party, submitted the censure motion after the Government had been power for only three months. Abhisit Vejajiva became Prime Minister after he won parliamentary vote on 15th December 2008 following the Constitutional Court decision to dissolve the ruling Palang Prachachon (People Power Party). Red mobs want government out On 25th March, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDDT), or the Red Shirts, relating to the colour of their outfit, gathered in front of Government House, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister and a new General Election. Key speakers also demanded the resignation of Prem Tinsulanond, President of the Privy Council, and Surayut Chulanont, Privy Councilor and former Prime Minister, alleging that they were masterminds of the September 2006 coup. Each evening former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, telephoned or appeared in a video link to speak to the demonstrators urging them to overthrow the bureaucratic system and install true democracy. On 30th March, he promised that as soon as the revolution started, he would come to Thailand and join the provincial demonstrators on their march to Bangkok. Meanwhile, hundreds of his supporters were gathered in front of provincial offices in the north and northeastern regions. More money to stimulate economy On 25th March, the Economic Ministers meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister endorsed an increased budget from 1.4 to 1.56 billion baht in the years 2010 to 2012 in order to revitalize the economy. The 1.56 billion baht budget will be allocated to 7 major projects:
The budget will be submitted to Parliament and upon approval; the first project will start in October 2009. Sources for financing are:
It is expected that this stimulation budget will increase GDP by 5% as well as create 1.6 million new jobs. Workers registered with social security to get 2,000 baht On 26th March, the Government launched a measure to stimulate the domestic economy by giving cash checks worth 2,000 baht to every employees registered with its social security program. It is estimated that this money will boost the ailing economy by 0.2 % or create 80,000- 100,000 new jobs. Qualified employees must be registered with social security according to articles 33 and 39 of the Social Security Act and have a monthly income of not more than 15,000 baht. The check is equivalent to cash for purchases; it is also freely transferable and cashable at any bank. Public debt to rise to 4.46 trillion baht On 22nd March, the Finance Minister, Korn Chatikavanij, reported the figure for public debt for years 2009-2010 to the Cabinet. It is expected that at the end of fiscal 2009 (30th September) public debt will be 4,063,000 million baht and this is expected to rise to 4,460,401 million baht at the end of fiscal 2010. The figures are respectively 42.73% and 44.67% of GDP and 10.20% and 12.20% of the total annual budget. Public debt is to rise because of government economic revitalization plan to increase state expenditure and mega-project investments. 7,600 billion baht for Southern Provinces On 25th March, a special Cabinet meeting to develop five Southern Provinces considered an investment plan worth 7,600 billion baht for the area. It is hoped that the funding will stimulate household economy and reduce violence. The Cabinet also endorsed a policy of non-violence and to focus on economic stimulation as a mean of overall development. Parliament nod for the red line underground train On 25th March, Parliament voted 298 to 65, with 16 abstained and 12 no votes, to approve in principle the Thai-Japanese Memorandum of Understanding and a draft contract to build an underground rail system between Bangsue and Rangsit, worth 63,018 million yen. The loan will come from the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA); it will attract interest at 1.4 % and have a pay back period of 25 years and a grace period of 7 years. Public land to be managed and surveyed On 24th March, the Cabinet approved two draft Bills, proposed by the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment and the Ministry of Interior. The Bills are to set up a National Land Committee which is to make policy and administrative plan for public land use throughout the country. It is also authorized to rule on land disputes between State agencies. A second committee is to set national standards for surveying and mapping public land. In addition, it will be responsible for conducting public land survey and mapping. Early retirement scheme excludes criminal offenders On 24th March, the Cabinet approved a State Agency Human Resources Plan, proposed by the Civil Service Office, revising the 28th August 2007 Early Retirement Scheme in order to exclude, from the scheme, officials involved in criminal offense. However, the main principle and content remain the same, particularly those regarding compensation which remains 8-15 times final salary. The number of civil servants who have applied are 13,883 costing the State 13,959 million baht. ICOC to launch one billion baht sufficiency project On 24th March, the Cabinet approved a budget of 1,000 million baht for the Internal Security Operation Command Department (ISOCD) to launch a “Sufficiency Community Program” in the provinces. The Program was proposed by National Security Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Tuaksuban, it is to publicize and train people in communities to understand and live in a “sufficiency” manner. It is believed that this ideology is the best method to protect people living in at-risk areas. The program will be designed by ISOCD and the 6 month-project will start in March-April. Alcohol for Songkran On 30th March, the Committee on Alcohol Policy voted 8 to 2 to scrap a proposal to ban the sale of alcohol during Songkran festival, but it will prohibit sale for a 24 hour period on designated official religious holidays. Further, the Committee agreed to launch a campaign against drink-driving. The Public Health Minister proposed to ban the sale of alcohol during Songkran because it is a major cause of road accident, but the Committee disagreed, fearing it would affect the tourist industry and encourage sale of illegal alcohol. Therefore, sale of alcohol during Songkran is allowed between 11.00-14.00 and 17.00-24.00, the same hours as any other day except religious holidays. |
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