Pua Thai to dismiss the Political Reform Committees

Pua Thai to dismiss the Political Reform Committees

Puea Thai Party is prepared to collect names in order to dismiss the newly-set-up Political Reform Committee.

Puea Thai Party’s spokesman Mr. Prompong Nopparit stated the political reform led by King Prajadhipok’s Institute was the secret, deceptive and hidden version as the mentioned institute was assigned to lead the political reform, following a secret meeting among seniors from the government, the military and King Prajadhipok’s Institute.

He added that Puea Thai party was reported that Professor Sujit Boonbongkarn was to serve as Chairman of the Political Reform Committee which would have a tenure of 19 months. This was to lengthen Mr. Abhisit’s Cabinet to be in power for 3 years.

While Mrs. Thitima Chaisaeng, a Chachoengsao MP, said as an alumna she was disappointed with the institute and she would collect names to dismiss the newly-set-up committees. She reasoned that after the 19 September coup, Professor Noranit Setthabut joined the Council for National Security (CNS) and nobody criticized the government in that period.

National News Bureau of Thailand
10 March 2009

The Deputy Prime Minister denies having problems with the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD)

The Deputy Prime Minister denies having problems with the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD)

The Deputy Prime Minister has confirmed on having no problems with the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), deeming the recent argument as a misunderstanding, which should not affect the government’s operation.

Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban affirmed today (March 10) that there has never been any conflict between him and the PAD or its core leader Sondhi Limthongkul. Following Mr. Sondhi’s words against him, the deputy premier viewed that it had been a result of a misunderstanding and admitted that his political role has posed a great difficulty for him to satisfy all sides. However, he expressed his readiness to listen to every voice while being confident that such personal issue would not impact the government’s operation.

Regarding the issuance of arrest warrants for 21 PAD members, Mr. Suthep assured that much progress has been reported. He further spoke of the possible transfers of Deputy Metropolitan Police Commander Pol. Maj. Gen. Umnuay Nimmano as well as around 30 director-generals and provincial governors within the Ministry of Interior, saying that they would be considered with the appropriateness and benefits taken into account.

In preparation for the red-shirted group’s movement to take place on March 27, the Deputy Prime Minister said he would adhere to the security measures, which had been adopted over recent rallies.

National News Bureau of Thailand
10 March 2009

Defense Minister to visit Chiang Mai, no worries about UDD protest

Defense Minister to visit Chiang Mai, no worries about UDD protest

Defense Minister Gen.Prawit Wongsuwan will be visiting Chiang Mai province today (March 10th) to acknowledge problems of the locals while declining to comment on former premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s frequent phone-ins to his supporters.

Prior to his provincial visit in Chiang Mai, Gen.Prawit said that he would observe operations of military personnel there and listen to local people's problems in order to find solutions for them without paying special attention to particular problems. The minister said he was not worried about protests against him by the red-clad United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) supporters.

Gen.Prawit further stated that he might not need to make any special orders if Mr Thaksin would return to Thailand since there are existing legal procedures to deal with the fugitive former prime minister. He also said Mr Thaksin's phone-in is a personal matter.

National News Bureau of Thailand
10 March 2009

Govt Whip calls for more specific information in opposition’s censure debate

Govt Whip calls for more specific information in opposition’s censure debate

The Government Whip Chairman has called on the opposition to be more specific in its information during its censure debate while assuring that a committee would be established to oversee debates.

Chairman of the Government Whip Chinaworn Boonyakiat spoke in the occasion of the opposition’s threat to submit its no-confidence agendas this Wednesday, March 11, requesting that the opposition presents more specific details in its claims against members of the administration than in the past if it is bent on such an action.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chinaworn concurrently voiced confidence that the government's work over its brief period in power has not yielded any flaw that can be exploited by the opposition. Nonetheless, he said the Whip is forming a committee to monitor the opposition's censure debate and to create correct understanding among the public in case of the opposition’s provision of groundless evidence or distorted facts.

The Whip Chairman added that, upon the opposition’s proposal of no-confidence agendas on March 11, the censure debate should be able to commence around the end of this month. Regarding the Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s planned visit to foreign countries, he assured that the premier has arranged his schedule with the possible debate in mind.

National News Bureau of Thailand
9 March 2009

Democrat Party spokesperson: extradition treaty not politically motivated

Democrat Party spokesperson: extradition treaty not politically motivated

Democrat Party Spokesperson Buranaj Samutharak asserts Thailand-Hong Kong’s extradition treaty is a collaboration to reach an agreement, not a political motive as alleged by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Mr Buranaj said that the Democrat Party wanted the Government to affirm that charges against Mr Thaksin were not political, and Mr Thaksin was not a political prisoner but a criminal.

Mr Buranaj’s statement was in response to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s allegation that extradition treaty between Thailand and Hong Kong was discriminatory and politically motivated.

Mr Buranaj also said that the extradition treaty was for criminal cases, not political ones. He added that the treaty was a result from the collaboration to reach an agreement between Thailand and Hong Kong, which had been in progress from recent past.

Regarding the coming censure debate that Phua Thai Party said that the party would not bring up sexual scandals as debating agenda, Mr Buranaj said that Phua Thai Party might have realized that the current Thai society would not accept old politics as much as before so they decided to change the agenda.

National News Bureau of Thailand
9 March 2009

King Prajadhipok's Institute discusses political reform

King Prajadhipok's Institute discusses political reform

The meeting at King Prajadhipok's Institute this morning (March 9) focused on the setting up of a Political Reform Committee while the Academic Committee of the Institute showed no objection if Professor . Sujit Boonbongkarn was to serve as Chairman of the Committee.

The meeting on political reform at King Prajadhipok's Institute this morning emphasized on drawing a format of the Political Reform Committee after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had said the institute would act as mediator of the political reform.

Professor Dr. Somkid Lerdphaitoon, a member of the Academic Committee of the King Prajadhipok's Institute affirmed before he joined the meeting that he agreed to King Prajadhipok's Institute's role in political reform as a neutral agency.

Asked about Professor Sujit Boonbongkarn as the committee’s chairman, he said the final resolution should come later.

While Associate Professor Noranit Setthabut, another member of the Academic Committee thought Mr. Sujit was well qualified for the position.

National News Bureau of Thailand
9 March 2009

DPM satisfied with security during provincial visits

DPM satisfied with security during provincial visits

Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban expresses his satisfaction with security measures for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the ministers during their provincial visits last weekend.

The deputy premier lauded the governors of the provinces the Cabinet's members had visited during their provincial tours, especially Lop Buri province where the prime minister visited yesterday despite the slight chaos by the anti-government United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) supporters.

Mr Suthep also dismissed the criticisms about the large deployment of police and military officers to provide security during the provincial tours, saying that the deployment was up to each province to arrange with no instructions from the government. He said people who threw objects towards the premier's motorcade would be punished, not the governor.

Meanwhile, Mr Abhisit said that he was not discouraged by the red-clad UDD’s attack in Lop Buri yesterday and he believed that people who threw bottles of water at his cars did so due to tensions caused by heat. The premier affirmed the government is obliged to be patient with protesters.

National News Bureau of Thailand
9 March 2009