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 December 2012 : His Majesty’s 85th birthday
His Majesty’s 85th birthday On 5th December, His Majesty, King Bhumipol celebrated his 85th birthday by addressing the nation in a televised broadcast. He thanked the people for their good wishes and asked them to treat each other with kindness. He said that the nation could overcome any difficulty if Thai people could develop this virtue. Ten significant political events of 2012 The House of Representatives appointed an extraordinary panel, chaired by Matubhum Party leader, General Sonthi Bunyaratglin, to find solutions to resolve political conflict and to move towards reconciliation. The Panel commissioned King Prachatipok Institute (KPI) to study and many short and long-term measures were proposed. As those measures were being debated by the MPs, the Panel submitted Reconciliation Bills to the House, all with the principle to pardon offenders who breached laws enforced following the September 2006 coup, including former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. This caused strongly worded debates in the House as well as public protests outside. However, the Bills passed two readings and its third is scheduled for 30-31 May. The House Speaker decided to expedite the Bills from 27thto the first on the agenda for consideration and this caused disorder in the House when some Democrat MPs protested by throwing their files. Though the Democrat again lost in the voting, the government decided to suspend the four Bills. Matubhumi Party leader, GeneralSonthiBunyaratglin,was the coup leader in 2006 when he was Chief of the Army. Three bills on the constitutional amendment were submitted to the Parliament since December 2011 and all passed on 25th February 2012. They have similar principles, to revise Article 291 and to set up a Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA). While the Bills were on their third reading in June, groups of people petitioned the Constitutional Court to consider whether the establishment of CDA would lead to a revocation of the Constitution and a violation of Article 68. The Court ruled that the controversial amendment was constitutional but if it were to rewrite the constitution completely, a referendum must be held since the present constitution was approved by a majority of the voters. The House Speaker, Somsak Kiatsuranont, did not anticipate that a video clip of his birthday party would have such an impact on politics and on his own political career. At the party he said that many times he successfully convinced Thaksin Shinawatra during their telephone conversations about the Constitutional amendment and Reconciliation Bills. His remark was an affirmation of speculations that Thaksin was the decision-maker behind these two political agenda. Democrat MPs shook the government by revealing many pieces of evidence, during parliamentary no-confidence debates, that Phue Thai MPs were involved in rice pledging irregularities. All of the evidence was submitted to the Anti-Corruption Agency for further investigation. The anti-government demonstration, held by a group called Pitak Siam, led by retired Gen.Boonlert Kaewprasit, ended after its second demonstration on 24th November after they clashed with the anti-riot police. Gen. Boonlert dissolved the protest immediately and resigned from the leadership. The Kanit Na Nakorn Truth Finding Commission disclosed its finding on the 2010 rioting that during the violence, there were several men in black outfits who were linked to Red Shirt protestors. This finding caused a great deal of dissatisfaction to the Red Shirts or UDD. Debate over the revocation of Article 112 i.e. the lese majesty law resulted in a crime, when its leading supporter, Thammasart University lecturer, Worajet Pakirat, was attacked on campus. The anti-Article 112 Movement intensified after a lese majesty offender, Ampol Tangnoppakun, died during detention. The transfer of the Permanent-Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, Gen. Sathien Permthong-in, by the Minister, Gen. Sukumpol Suwannatat, to a position of no authority in the Defense Ministry caused a rift between political and military sectors. This was the first time in history that a political officer had involved himself in the promotion of military officers. The Administrative Court had declined to rule on Gen. Sathien's petition, but the Anti-Corruption Commission has accepted his case for investigation. The US government, through NASA, requested the use of U-Tapao air base for metrological study. This became was a sensitive issue, both in Parliament and ininternational and regional relations.The government decided not to approve the request, as it probably required prior parliamentary approval according to Article 190 of the Constitution. Two most influential world leaders, US President Barrack Obama and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao of China visited Thailand in 2012. Media nicknamed politicians It became a tradition at the end of the year for parliamentary journalists to give nicknames to politicians to reflect their performance during the year. In 2012, the government was named “First Brother” to mimic its first car and first home policies. The word ‘Brother’ implied that her brother, Thaksin, ruled the Yingluck government. The Prime Minister's nickname was “Swimming Crab” since her real nickname is Pu or crab and she always avoids difficult questions. Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Ubumrung was named “Shinawatra's Bumper” as he always acts as his loyal shield. Deputy Prime Minister Kittirat Na Ranong was named “White Lie Chick” due to his real nickname is “Tong” which means rooster but he was naive enough to confess he lied about the economic growth rate. Parliament was named ‘Vengeance’ reflecting the fact that ruling and opposition parties were truly out to get each other and ruling MPs were only interested in destroying the national budget. Lese majesty, Art.112 constitutional On 19th December 2012, the Constitutional Court ruled that Article 112 (the lese majesty offence) of theCriminal Code was constitutional. The Criminal Court sought the Constitutional Court’s ruling in regard to a Mr. Somyot Prueksakasemsuk’s defence that Article 112 is incompatible with rights to express opinions safeguarded by Articles 3, 8, 29 and 45 of the 2007 Constitution. Somyot was charged with violating Article 112 in his editorial function by publishing an article defaming His Majesty. He denied the charge citing Article 112 as being inconsistent with the Constitution. After the Constitutional Court’s decision, the Criminal Court will deliver its decision on Somyot' case on 23 January 2013. Court to rule on tiger export case On 19th December, the Criminal Court accepted the petition filed by the Attorney General against Deputy Prime Minister, Plodprasop Suraswadi, for breaching the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) of which Thailand is a signatory. The incident took place when he was Director-General of the Forestry Department and he allowed Sri Racha Tiger Zoo Co. Ltd. to export 100 tigers. Witnesses will be called to testify on 22nd April. Court rejects Ombudsman’s 3G petition On 3rd December, the Central Administrative Court by a majority of 4-2 rejected the Ombudsman’s petition that, contrary to the Constitution, the National Broadcasting, Television and Telecommunications Commission (NBTTC) lacked jurisdiction to supervise the bidding of the 3-G mobile phone network. The Ombudsman also asked the Court to suspend bidding results until a ruling is made. However, the Court decided that the Ombudsman had no authority to file a suit against independent agencies, such as NBTTC. The Court’s decision endorsed NBTTC’s authority to decide bidding conditions. Sukumbhan to seek BMA reelection On 27th December, the Democrat Party picked its gubernatorial candidate for BMA, the current governor, Sukhumbhan Paripatra, is to run for a second term. They expressed their confidence that he would be able to defend himself over the sky-train (BTS) lawsuit. Sukumbhan had re- extended BMA contract for an extension of the BTS line. Three richest of YingluckCabinet On 24th December, the National Anti-Corruption Commission disclosed 23 new Cabinet members’ assets. Education Minister, PongthepThepkanjana, and his wife, are the richest with ß2,921million. Second and third are Deputy Interior Minister, Chatt Kuldiloke, ß1,140 and Public Health Minister, Pradit Sintavanarong, ß963 million. The poorest is Deputy Public Health Minister, Cholnan Srikaew, with ß3 million. Referendum committee appointed On 18th December, the Cabinet decidedon the issue of a national referendum for the constitutional amendment and appointed a committee to study details according to Article 165 and the Public Referendum law. The committee comprises of Ministers from Justice, Interior, Education, and Office of the Prime Minister Departments as well as the Secretary General of the Council of State. Taxes restructured On 18th December, the Cabinet resolved to restructure 3 taxes: income tax for married couples, excise duty of the first car policy and personal income tax. A married couple now can pay income tax separately and rate bands are reduced from10, 20, 0 and 37 percent to 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 percent. Moreover, personal allowance will be increased from ß50,000 to ß100,000. New vehicle excise duty to begin 2016 On 18th December, the Cabinet resolved to restructure vehicle excise duty effective from 1 January 2016. The new tax, in compliance with an environment friendly policy and to encourage an efficient use of energy, will be calculated from emission of carbon dioxide. Medium range vehicles of 1.4-1.5 litre engine will be taxed at 30%, if the Co2 emission does not exceed 150 gram/km; and 35% if emission does not exceed 200 gram/km. As the current rateis 25%, the new rate would increase the amount payable to between ß30,000 to ß80,000 per unit. It is anticipated that the Excise Department would earn approximately an additional ß256 billion per annum. Civil servantsto get ß3.5 billion bonus On 25th December, the Cabinet allocated a budget of ß 3,563 million for civil servants bonuses. Eligible state officials, whose performances meet required criteria, are those working in central, provincial and academic agencies. National reserves increased The Bank of Thailand reported that on 14th December 2012, national reserves increased by USD 500 million or ß153 billion, to USD 1826 billion or ß 5.596 trillion. Public revenues underestimated The Director-General of the Fiscal Policy Office, Somchai Sujjapong, disclosed that public revenues reached ß174 billion which is ß23 billion, or 15.2%, higher than estimated. This is the result of continuing growth in consumption, better collection of VAT and vehicle excise duty particularly from the first car policy. Since economic growth is continuing, he confidently expects public revenues in 2013 would meet targets ofß2.1 trillion. BOI approved flood revitalization projects Industrial Minister, Prasert Boonchaisuk, disclosed that the Board of Investment had approved 39 projects orß 314 billion worth of investments. Among those, 32 projects, totaled ß279 billion, were granted according to the flood revitalization policy. Seven projects were for re-investing in the same premises that were affected by floods. Mostly they were for vehicle and vehicle spare parts manufacturing entities and their total investments were worthß3,506 million. Southern tax and debt repayments extended On 25th December, the Cabinet re-extended 10 financial measures applicable for the southernmost provinces for another 2 years, or until 31st December 2014. An example is a reduction of business tax of approximately ß1.4 billion per annum. Thais 3rd happiest in the world The US research firm Gallup Inc. revealed its worldwide study of happiness among 148 countries and Thailand came third together with Trinidad and Tobago. The happiest two countries were Panama and Paraguay, and the least, at 148th, was Singapore. |
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