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 August 2014 : Gen. Prayuth named 29Mth Prime Minister:
Gen. Prayuth became 29th Prime Minister On 31st August, following His Majesty issued a royal command appoint Council for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO)chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha to become the 29th Prime Minister, the cabinet list was announced in the Royal Gazette as follow:
Previously on 21 August, the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), unanimously voted 191 to 3 abstained to nominate Prayuth. Previously, the NLA has voted, on 8 August, to choose Pornpetch Vichitcholchai to become its president and Surachai Liengboonlertchai and Peerasak Porchit to be the first and second vice presidents. A proposal on the removal of NLA members On 30th August, the NLA sub-committee on the conventional regulations resolved to instigate a regulation on the removal of NCL membership. Following a one third absent from the ordinary session of 3 months or 90 days, a membership would be deemed disqualified and shall be removed. However, this excludes absence due to obligations bequeath by the NLA president and sick leave. A monthly report on NLA resolutions would be delivered to every members so they could check their votes and absences. 2018 Budget Bill passed 1st round On 18th August, the National Legislative Assembly unanimously voted 183, with 3 abstained, the president and vice-presidents, to pass the 2018 Budget Bill. A 50-member extraordinary committee was later appointed to read the Bill before resubmit for deliberation within 7 days. CMPO chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha addressed the Assembly that state expenditures in 2018 would be Baht 2.575 trillion while income expected at Baht 2.434 trillion which is 2.1 percent higher than in 2017. The 2018 Budget Bill was formulated on a forecast that in 2018 economic would grow at 3.5-4.5 percent, higher than the estimated 1.5-2.5 in 2017, and inflation in 2018 would also be lower, 1.8-2.8 percent, against 1.9-2.9 percent in 2017. Amongst the total expenditure, a Baht 109 billion would be allocated to the local government. Debt Claiming Bill passed 1st reading On 29th August the National Legislation Assembly unanimously voted with 168 and 4 abstained to approve the Debt Claiming Bill and appointed an extraordinary committee to read the Bill before submit for the second reading. The Bill aims to resolve problems on forcefully and defaming occurs in debt claiming. Though this draft did not include usury lending which is illegal practice, it could be added by the committee. Baht 5 billion to ease rubber problems On 26th August, the CMPO approved a rubber development plan to be implemented between 2014 and 2024. Two major measures are:
Local authorities’ subsidiary transfer on condition On 26th August, the CMPO also approved a transfer of Baht 8.5 billion to local authorities countrywide on condition that the subsidiaries must not be used for study tour abroad. Each authority would get an equal budget of Baht 1 million and the rest would be allocated in regards to their submitted proposals. Local authorities had proposed projects on development of sustainable infrastructure, employment to stimulate life quality in the locality, and promotion of tourism to boost local economy. Waste management urgently needed in 6 provinces On 26th August, the Pollution Control Department of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry disclosed the CMPO has approved waste management plans to be implemented through ministerial regulations in 6 provinces; Ayudhya, Lopburi, Nakorn Pathom, Saraburi, Pathumthani and Samutprakarn. They are provinces of most severe and accumulated problems that need urgent, effective and integration actions. The plans included household and toxic waste and it was estimated that the total implementation cost would be Baht 526.94 million. NLA members to declare asset lists On 14th August, the National Anti-Corruption Commission resolved that section 32 of the Anti-Corruption Act B.E 2552 is applicable to members of the National Legislation Assembly ( NLA). As a result, they are oblige to submit asset and liabilities list. The law provided asset lists must be submitted within 30 days after taking and leaving office and the lists would be publicly revealed within 30 days after submissions. International undersea cable approved On 13rd August, the CMPO meeting resolved to approve the ICT Ministry’s international undersea cable project of Baht 5.979 billion to facilitate internet services between Thailand and France, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong. Project commencement, by TOT Plc., is from 2014 to 2017 and construction cost would come from loans and TOT revenue, Baht 3.289 billion and Baht 2.689 billion respectively. Surrogacy Bill ready for NLA reading On 13rd August, a draft Bill on Surrogacy was approved by the CMPO and ready to be submit to the NLA. The Bill, divided into 6 chapters and has 49 sections, aims to designate the legitimate parents of infants conceived by surrogacy techniques as well as to regulate scientific/medical research on embryos and technology to promote pregnancy. A master plan on the sustainable forest management On 6th August, the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) spokesperson Col. Banpote Poonpein disclosed the CMPO has approved a master plan on sustainable forest management, to be co-implemented between ISOC and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry. Principles are to maintain, protect, revitalize and reforest national forest, currently comprises of 31.5 percent of a total country area, to attain the minimum level of 40 percent of total national area within 10 years. The action plans have 1, 2 and 2-10 year time frames. The one-year plan is to tackle Illegal logging. The two-year plan is on the making of master plan and the second to tenth year plan is on revitalization of national forest. The master plan also focuses on the promotion of income and quality of life of people residing within the forest and its perimeter. Civic education adding to core curriculum The Secretary General to the Office of Basic Education Dr. Kamol Rodklai said since the core curriculum was used since 2008, regardless to its comprehensiveness and coverage, it was used for 6 years, therefore, its’ time to revise to suit the societal changes. Revisions would be on the division of structural subjects and their content, schooling time, required qualifications for students etc. The new curriculum should resolve every problem. Chairperson to the working committee on the civic education handbook Dr. Suchart Wongsuwan said civic education would be individually taught in both primary (Prathom), and secondary (Mathayom), classes. A total of 6 subjects would be taught in Prathom 1-6 as well as Mathayom 1-3, but in Mathayom 4-6 the subjects would be reduced to 4. Annual learning period are mandatory 40 hours, 20 hours and optional but should be a total of 80 hours within 3 years respectively. Curriculum handbooks would be made and delivered to every school so the teaching would have similar direction. However, civic education would be an integration of outside classroom activities. Abhisit-Suthep accusation precluded On 28th August, the Criminal Court precluded the Attorney-General’s accusation against Abhisit Vejjajiva and Suthep Thuagsuban on their commands to disband the Red Shirt protesters during the 2010 violence on ground that the Court has no authority to persecute the case. The AG had pledged the two offenders, then the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, allowed the troops to use both live and rubber bullets that intentionally caused injuries and death. However, the Court’s verdict was annexed with the Director-General of the Criminal Court Judge’s written statement that if this case was brought to the Criminal Court’s Section for Persons Holding Political Positions, charges would be only on the malfeasance in office. |
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