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 December 2010 : His Majesty’s 2011 New Year wishes
His Majesty’s New Year wishes On 31st December, His Majesty the King gave a New Year blessing and wishes for success and happiness for all Thai people for 2011. He also asked everyone to love and to forgive each other and to cooperate so as to bring security and prosperity to the country. Government 2 year-achievements On 24th December, at the second anniversary of his party being in power, the Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, outlined the government’s achievements. In economic areas, they are:
Regarding social development, the government provided:
Second Democrat case dismissed On 9th December, the Constitutional Court by 4 to 3 dismissed a second case against the Democrat Party on a technicality. The Political Party Registrar did not make a prior-decision as required by law; the Court therefore, decided that a statutory process was not compiled with. The Democrat Party was accused of failing to declare the 258 million Baht donation from TPI Polene Plc. Ltd. The money was given to Messiah Business and Creation Co. Ltd. to produce campaign posters. Bangkok MP seized at Cambodian border On 29th December, Panich Vikitsreth, a Bangkok MP, Veera Somkwamkid, a leading member of the Thailand People's Network Against Corruption – PNAC and 8 other people were arrested by Cambodian troops while they were investigating the 48th post marking Thai-Cambodian boundary near the Ban Nong Jan in the Sub-district of None Mak Mun, Kok Sunge District, Sa Kaew Province. Three people managed to escape, so only seven were taken to the capital for investigation and prosecution. They allegedly entered and trespassed on Cambodian military area. Emergency revoked in 4 provinces On 21st December, the Cabinet approved the revocation of emergency orders in 4 provinces: Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan. It also dissolved the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation – CRES, which will be replaced by new agency, the Monitoring Centre. This will be chaired by the Defence Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwon and the Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Daopong Rattanasuwan will head the Monitoring Centre. PAD guards jailed On 30th December, the Court jailed 85 guards of the People Alliance for Democracy, aka Sri Wichai Warriors. They were convicted being armed, breaking into and causing damages to the National Broadcasting Television Station on 22-25 August 2008. Thaksin’s children let off Shin tax On 29th December, the Central Tax Court dismissed the Revenue Department’s case against Thaksin’s children, Pan Thong Tae and Pin Thong Tha. Following the Supreme Court’s decision, the Court found that Shin Corp shares belonged to their father, so the children were not liable to pay 5,677,136,572.88 and 5,676,860,088 Baht tax respectively on the sale of the shares. The Court also ruled that the Revenue Department was to pay costs of 150,000 Baht to both of them. Mrs. Kanjanapa Honghern brought the case on behalf of Thaksin’s children, against the Revenue Department and the Appeal Committee, asking the Court to dismiss the taxation order. Former EC guilty On 29th December, the Criminal Court sentenced four former members of the Election Commission to suspended two-year jail, for illegally issuing regulations giving each of them retroactive monthly allowances of 20,000 baht on top of their salaries. The Court found that they violated Section 157 of the Criminal Code and Section 83 of the National Anti-Corruption Act. They are former EC chairman Pol. Gen. Wasana Permlarp, and former EC members Prinya Nakchattree, Veerachai Naewboonnian, and Gen. Charuphat Ruangsuwan 35 MB for Klity villagers On 20th December, the Kanchanaburi Provincial Court ordered the Lead Concentrate (Thailand) Co. to pay compensation totaled 35,800,000 Baht to 151 villagers of the Lower Klity village of the Chalae Sub-district, Thong Pha Phum and Si Sawat District Kanchanaburi Province. Moreover, the company must remove lead residues from Klity Creek. Villagers brought the petition asking for 1000 million Baht compensation because the company’s lead mine polluted Klity Creek. Several people became sick and some died after drinking water from the Creek. Apirak won Bangkok On 13th December, the Election Commission officially announced bye-election results in five constituencies. They are:
54.85 percent of the eligible voters cast their votes. Jatuporn more bail conditions On 28th, the Criminal Court dismissed the Department of Special Investigation’s petition to revoke bail of Jatuporn Prompan, Puea Thai party list MP. The Court however, imposed further bail conditions: he must refrain from political assembly of more than 5 people and the dissemination of information that might affect the pending criminal case, except in parliamentary debate in his role as an MP. Jatuporn is one of the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship leaders who surrendered to the police on 19th May 2010. He was granted bail based on his parliamentary status. Free electricity and travel extended On 22nd December, the Cabinet approved the extension of economic assistance for another 2 months or until the end of February. It is anticipated that the cost of providing free electricity, train and bus fares will be approximately 3,085 million Baht. Funds will be paid directly to the four providing agencies: Electricity Generating Authority 261 MB, Provincial Electricity Authority 2,226 MB, State Railway 177 MB and Bangkok Mass Transit 420 MB. Minimum wage rose On 9th December, the Wage Committee resolved to increase national minimum wages between 8 to 17 Baht per day, effective on 1 January 2011. Minimum wage in seven provinces: Phayao, Si Sa Ket, Amnat Charoen, Nakhon Sawan, Phetchabun, Uthai Thani, and Prachuap Khiri Khan will rise at the minimum rate of 8 Baht, while Phuket, the maximum of 17 Baht. |
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