November 2009 : Cambodia refused to extradite Thaksin Cambodia refused to extradite Thaksin Senate rejected State Audit Bill Taxpayers not interested in political party donation Map Tha Pud injunction reversed CCTV at all Customs check points Government revenue in October over target Illegal loan relief Blue Line Train budget increased Thailand transparency ranking Former Prime Minister Samak died Cambodia refused to extradite Thaksin On 11th November 2009, Cambodia, in a formal letter, refused to send Thaksin Shinawatra to Thailand at the request of the Thai Government under an extradition treaty between the two countries. In addition, the Cambodia appointed Thaksin as an economic advisor to the Hun Sen Government, following which he visited Cambodia on 11th – 14th November. Shortly after the refusal to extradite, a Thai engineer working in Phnom Phen for Air Traffic Services Co., Sivarak Chutipong, was arrested in his office and taken into custody on allegation of espionage by faxing Thaksin’s flight arrival time to the Thai Embassy. The following day, a Thai Embassy officer, Kamrop Palwatwichai, was expelled from Cambodia. Following this incident, the Thai Government reconsidered a Thai-Cambodian Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). On 27th November, a Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Koi Kuang, announced that Cambodia will not accept the 1,400 million Baht loan under the MOU since the country had sufficient funds. The loan agreement was made in July 2008 for the purpose of road construction. During his imprisonment, Sivarak’s mother and brother, Mrs. Simarak Na Nakorn Panom and Mr. Pongsuree Chutipong, were allowed to visit him and this case was expected to be tried shortly. Senate rejected State Audit Bill On 23rd November, the State Audit Bill failed to pass the Senate since it did not receive more than half of all the Senate votes, as required by the Constitution. The Bill had 70-53, with 16 abstentions and 2 no votes. Those who voted against the Bill argued that it gave too much power to the State Auditor and its Office, so the Bill is now returned to the House of Representatives. If it receives more than half of all Representative votes, the Bill is considered to have passed both Houses. Then the Prime Minister is to submit it for royal approval within 20 days. Taxpayers not interested in political party donation On 29th November, the Election Commission revealed that the total amount of political party donation made by taxpayers in 2008 was 6,945,000 Baht. This makes a grand total of 7,292,355 baht with an addition of 347,255 Baht (equivalent to 5% of the taxpayer contribution) paid for by the State as required under the Political Party Act of 2007. Under the law, in their tax payment form, an individual taxpayer can designate 100 Baht, from their income tax to a political party of their choice. In 2008, there were 69,451 taxpayers, or 7% of total 9.7 million who made such designation, and 59,768 or 86%, designated Democrat Party while 7,941, or 11.43 %, Puae Thai. There are 66 political parties registered with the Election Commission. Map Tha Pud injunction reversed On 3rd December, the Supreme Administrative Court voted 6 to 1 to reverse the interim injunction of the Central Administrative Court allowing 11 (out of 76) projects in the Map Tha Pud Industrial Zone to continue to operate. The Supreme Administrative Court stated that these 11 projects had no impact on the environment so they should be allowed to continue. The interim injunction had previously halted work on total 76 projects. The Map Tha Pud injunction was initiated by the Map Tha Pud Counter Global Warming Association President, Mr. Srisuwan Chanya and 43 associates against the National Environmental Commission and other state agencies alleging negligence and a breach of article 67 (paragraph 2) of the Constitution in that they failed to conduct a legally mandated process. This includes a public hearing to be attended by local people and stakeholders to be followed by an environmental impact assessment which is also to consider public health. Both of these processes are to be conducted by an independent agency. The interim injunction, having halted work on 76 projects with a combined value of 400,000 million baht, affects the economy, investment, and investors’ confidence. The Government therefore appealed to the Supreme Administrative Court. Following the Supreme Court ruling allowing 11 projects to proceed, the Government appointed a committee chaired by former Prime Minister Arnand Punyarachun to tackle this problem. The committee is comprised of representatives from the public and private sector, academics, and a state agency. Their duties are: To examine all 76 projects and any that had no impact on public health or the environment should be allowed to continue, To determine projects which cause pollution, and To make recommendations Following that decision, on 2nd December, the Cabinet approved a 400 million Baht fund to provide immediate assistance to communities in the area. Public utility projects, such as solid waste disposal, water supply and community hospital will have priority. CCTV at all Customs check points All 1,212 Customs Department check-points are now equipped with CCTV, which are connected to Customs Department headquarters via hi-speed network. The 740 million baht project will facilitate trade, internal security and preventing smugglings. State agencies, such as Interior Ministry, National Police and National Intelligence Agency can also use this data. The installation of CCTV nationwide is in accordance with the Customs Department Development Plan approved by the Cabinet on 17 July 2007. Government revenue in October over target According to the Fiscal Policy Office, tax collection in October 2009 from all three departments, Customs, Excise and Revenue, reached 111,052 million Baht which is 16.2%, or 15,484 million Baht, higher than target. This is the result of national economic recovery discernible in greater imports and domestic consumption, which together with the increase in petroleum tax in May produced higher tax collection. Illegal loan relief The Government is trying to solve the problem of illegal loans or loan sharks. The program invites debtors whose debt is not more than 200,000 Baht to register and apply for help at the Government Saving Bank or the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives during the month of December 2009. It is expecting that debts will be refinanced by these government-own banks at lower interest rates. For more information please telephone Call Center 02-555-0555. Blue Line Train budget increased On 24th November 2009, the Cabinet approved a budget to 52,460 million Baht (or an increase of 3,639 million Baht) for the construction of the Blue Line underground Train from Hua Lumpong to Bang Kae and Bang Sue to Tha Phra. Three agencies: the Transport Ministry, the Budget Bureau and the Controller-General’s Departments, are to consult with each other as to detailed specifics and to resubmit them to the Cabinet. Thailand transparency ranking An independent agency, Transparency Thailand, disclosed that in 2009, in a corruption table of ranking, Thailand ranked 84th out of 180 countries and received 3.4 out of 10 points. Amongst the 23 nations in Asia, Thailand was 10th. The top three most transparent countries are New Zealand with 9.4 points, Denmark 9.3 and Singapore 9.2. Former Prime Minister Samak died On 25th November, former Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej died at Bumrungraj Hospital at the age of 74. The cause of death was liver cancer. Samak became the 25th Prime Minister of Thailand after the Palang Prachachon Party won the general election on 23rd December 2007. However, he held office for only 9 months because he was disqualified by the Constitutional Court on grounds that he breached a constitutional provision against outside employment while in office. His successor was Somchai Wongsawat from the same party. Samak was a long term politician who held many important positions: Defence and Interior portfolios, Palang Prachachon Party Leader and Bangkok Governor. He also founded the Prachakorn Thai Party.