March 2014 : Red Shirts demand secession Red Shirts demand secession PDRC moves toward reform Supreme Administrative Court finalized Tawil’s case Constitutional Court annulled the 2 Feb. general election EC approved more Baht 20 billion to pay farmers’ debt Farmers filed lawsuits against Yingluck Constitution Court ruled Baht 2 trillion Loan Bill unconstitutional EC gave BMA governor “Yellow Card” regarding to election campaign Emergency Decree revoked NACC indicted Senate Speakers violated the Constitution Unofficial Senate election results PM testified on rice pledge scheme Red Shirts demand secession       On 28 February in Chiangmai, the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) or Red Shirts supporters of Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinwatra welcomed her with some few banners written “If this country is unjust, we want a secession of independent Lanna State”. The messages were a signal to their opponents that they will not stand idle if the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is toppled through illegitimate means. Similar banners were placed in other northern provinces.       Following the incidence, on 3 March army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha ordered a staff judge advocate to seek court action against a Red Shirt leader Petchawat Wattanapongsiri. Evidences such as photographs and video tapes were presented to the police.       The idea of independent Lanna State has been mobilized for more than 6 months but after 3 March some Red Shirt denied they actually have no intention of separation into an independent state. Meanwhile, caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck said the idea was not support by her administration. She was requested all parties should be fairly treated regarding this matter.       In Pathumthani province, Red Shirt hardliner Wuthipong Kotchthamkul, alias Kotee, placed a huge banner at a pedestrian overpass saying if this country is unjust, he wanted a separation. The banner was later removed by militant officers who also press charge against him. Kotee had breached the les majesty law over his several radio broadcast and live speech and faces a few more lawsuits.       The idea of secession was publicly announced on stage by at least two Red Shirt leaders who are also caretaker cabinet members; Interior Minister Charupong Ruengsuwan and deputy Commerce Minister Nattawut Sai-kaue. They confirmed to implement the idea, following it was proposed by the Red Shirts.       Red Shirt new appointed chief leader Chatuporn Prompan once said on stage that the separation ideology of an independent state was a result from independent agencies unjust resolutions. The Red Shirt had tolerated and did not react until they came across this idea.       However, UDD leader Tida Tavornseth as well as her husband Weng Tojirakarn former Pheu Thai MP rebutted the idea. Tida said the secession is needless due to Red Shirts are the majority people of Thailand. She explained those movement might came from people feeling hurt from injustices. PDRC reform solutions       In March, the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) held several brainstorming meeting in order to find solutions on reform and it has a conclusion to reform on 3 major issues; National police agency, political parties, politics, polling and administration system. To reduce poverty, inequality, corruption and malfeasance among state agencies. To decentralize administration power from central government to local authority.       These proposals would be available for public comments before submit to the people’s council.       On 29 March, PDRC organized another big rally from Lumpini Park to King Rama 5 Monument in Ratchdamnern Avenue. The event was supported by 70 civic groups whose representatives had marched alongwith hundreds thousands of demonstrators.       While the rally was ongoing and PDRC secretariat Suthep Thuagsuban was on the way to King Rama 5 Monument, at 13.30 hrs. one M79 was blown onto Sawankalok Road adjacent to the rally route. Two cars were damaged but no one was injured. Supreme Administrative Court reiterated Tawil’s ruling       On 7 March, the Supreme Administrative court reiterated the Central Administrative Court’s verdict. The Court ruled former Secretary General of the National Security Council (NSC) Tawil Pleansri should be restored to the position of NSC chief within 45 days. The Court reasoned Tawil was not assigned with any significant or urgent mission as was claimed by the Prime Minister when she appealed to the Central Administrative Court. Moreover, there was no evidence that Tawil failed to perform his function, as the NSC chief, efficiently or ineffectively, or declined to respond to the government policy.       Tawil was transfered from NSC chief to an advisor to the Prime Minister in September 2011. He lodged a petition to the Administrative Court reasoned the transfer was unjust and unlawful. The Central Administrative Court ruled on 31 May 2012 that he should return to former position as soon as possible but the Prime Minister appealed. The two courts’ trial took 2 years and 6 months and Tawil is retiring on 30 September 2014.       On 25 March, the cabinet resolved to restate Tawil but appointed a committee to investigate on his presence to PDRC stage.       As a result from Tawil’s reposition, the NSC chief Lieutenant General Paradon Pattanatabutr was transferred to the position of an advisor to the Prime Minister and bequeathed with authority to supervise the deepsouth security. Constitution Court nullified the 2 Feb. polling       On 21 March, the Constitutional Court ruled by 6 to 3 to nullify the 2 February general election on ground the voting did not take place in all constituencies on the same day across the country. Polling in 28 constituencies were uncompleted. The Court also ordered the government to co-designate the new election date with the Election Commission.       The constitutional court ruling was a result of complaint, lodged from a university lecturer, to the state ombudsman. EC approved Baht 20 billion to pay farmers’ debt       On 4 March, the Election Commission ( EC) approved the caretaker government’s request on the borrowing of a Baht 20 billion from the central budget to pay debts in the Rice Pledge Scheme with condition the loan would be returned. The government anticipated to get approximately Baht 24 billion in the next three months from rice stock sales.       EC commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said the loan money would be paid to farmers who received pledging certificates before the 9 December 2013 House dissolution. However there are other unpaid certificates of Baht 90,000, issued between December 2013 to February 2014. Somchai said the caretaker government must loan from other financial sources.       On 17 March, caretaker deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittirat Na Ranong endorsed a letter on the borrowing and the budget was transferred to the Commerce Ministry and to the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperative.       Caretaker deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Puangrach was confident the government would be able to pay farmers’ debt incurred between December 2013 to April 2014 since the Ministry will gain approximately Baht 10 billion per month from rice selling. Farmers filed law suits against Yingluck       On 5 March, rice farmers from Kanchanaburi Province lodged petition to the Administrative Court against caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and responsible agencies on failure to pay a total of Baht 2,700 million regarding to the rice pledging scheme. They demanded an interest rate of 7.5% annually.       Previously on 4 March, another farmer group, led by Buddha Isara, had pressed charge to the National Police Office demanding a legal prosecution on Yingluck and other 9 people responsible in the rice pledge scheme. CC ruled Baht 2 trillion Loan Bill unconstitutional       On 12 March, the Constitution Court ruled the Baht 2 trillion Loan Bill unconstitutional and violated Chapter VIII on Fiscal Affairs, Finance and Budget.       Two petitions were submitted, through the Senate and House Speakers, by members of the parliament, requested the Court to rule on the constitutionality of the said Bill.       Upon investigation, the Court concluded that: Phue Thai MP from Sakon Nakorn province Narisorn Thongtiratch had used his ID card and some belonged to other MPs to cast the electronic voting of the Bill. The Baht 2 trillion Loan is a legally public budget and must be spent in conform and according to financial laws and fiscal affair regulations. Its provisional that the cabinet has authority to drill the loan after informing the parliament is a violation to Part 8, on the scrutiny of unconstitutionality of enactment that stipulates any Bill requires an approval from the National Assembly. BMA governor suspended his duty       On 11 March, the Election Commission voted 3 to 2 that BMA governor M.R. Sukhumphand Paribatra violated the Local Election Act in campaigning when his team had used propaganda that will cause damage or loss of favor of other candidates.       The case was lodged to the Court and upon the Court acceptance on 28 March, Sukhumbhan, on 31 March, announced he will cease his duties from 31 March onward. Emergency Decree revoked       On 18 March, the cabinet resolved to revoke the Emergency Decree, imposed since 22 January, in Bangkok Metropolitan Area and some adjacent provinces and re-impose with the Security Law. NACC indicted Senate Speaker violated the Constitution       On 20 March, the National Anti-Corruption Commission ( NACC) unanimously indicted the Senate speaker Nikhom Wairatchpanich of misuse his authority to abruptly terminate the debate on constitution amendments regarding the composition of the Senate while several deliberations were still pending. Such the act is a violation to Article 3 paragraph 2 and Article 291 of the Constitution. The NACC exercised its power in regard to Article 270 and 274 of the NACC law and Nikhom was automatically suspended from position. However, the NACC will forward, within 20 days, the indictment and relevant documents to the Senate to decide whether to impeach Nikhom or not.       Meanwhile, Nikhom’s duty was represented by the deputy speaker. Unofficial results of Senate election       Unofficial results of the Senate election came out within 24 hours after the polling closed on 30 March and in Bangkok, former Auditor General Khunying Jaruwan Mentaka came first with 552,530 votes. The second and third runner-ups were Pol. Gen. Supisan Pakdinarunard and Kosit Suwinich who received 267,947 and 78,747 votes respectively.       The Election Commission disclosed from a total of 48,787,153 eligible voters nationwide, 20,873,423 or 42.78 came to cast their ballots. However, 1,086,184 ballots or 5.20% were invalid and the abstained was 2,496,341 votes or 11.96%.       Lamphun province has the most voters of 68.39% and Choburi the least, 24.99%.       The EC anticipated it could announce the official results within 30 days.       The 2007 Constitution of Thailand provided the House of Senate to have a total of 150 members. 77 should come from election from 77 provinces and 73 to come from appointment. 468 candidates had competed in this Senate election and the elected would stay in term for 6 years, until 2020. PM testified on Rice Pledge Scheme       On 31 March, Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra presented her defense to the National Anti-Corruption Commission over a charge of dereliction of duty over her role, as chairwoman of the National Rice Policy Committee, in the rice scheme. She was accompanied by 4 ministers, 1 secretary general and 1 deputy secretary general to the Prime Minister, and a lawyer team and the meeting last 20 minutes.       After Yingluck left, her lawyer said that the testified was presented in both verbal and written documents of 150 pages. The Prime Minister submitted a list of 10 people to be her witnesses.       After a start of the Rice Pledged Scheme on the 2011/12 crop year, and by the end of 2012, three complaints were submitted to the NACC asking the implementation should be investigate. They were from 1. The New Political Party on 15 October, 2. The Anti-Corruption Association on 6 November and 3. Former Democrat MP Warong Dechgitvigrom on 3 December. On 5 June 2013, Warong lodged another complaint particularly on the selling to 2011/12 crop.       On 9 July 2013, NACC announced the investigation was held in 2 dimensions; in management and trading.       On 3 December 2013, NACC found evidence of corruption in the G-to-G sale and resolved to extend investigation into 5 more groups.       16 January 2014, NACC unanimously resolved to indict Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and other 15 individual of irregularities in the G-to-G rice sell and to investigate Yingluck on her negligence of duty.       28 January 2014, NACC appointed a new committee to examine Yingluck’s role and resolved on 18 February 2014 to summon her, on 27 February, to acknowledge her accusation. Yingluck did not present but sent an authorized lawyer team to represent her.       4 March 2014, Yingluck’s lawyer team was granted to make a copy of evidences and asked NACC to extend the testified and on the same day, a grenade was thrown into NACC building.       Former Phue Thai MP Pairote Issaraseripong submitted a letter, endorsed by 20,000 signature, to the Senate Speaker, requesting impeachment on NACC commissioner Wicha Mahakhun reasoning he was unjust in Yingluck case.