#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012741

Four versions of election-related bills passed their first reading in Parliament on Thursday.

The bills would change the single-ballot election system to two ballots and increase constituency MPs from 350 to 400 while reducing party-list MPs from 150 to 100.

The new laws are needed to reflect earlier changes made to the Constitution.

The four versions of the draft bills were proposed by the Cabinet, the opposition Pheu Thai Party; the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) and coalition parties; and the opposition Move Forward Party.

The Cabinet’s draft received 609 votes for, 16 against, 10 abstentions, and one no-vote.

Pheu Thai’s draft received 420 votes for, 205 against. 14 abstentions, and one no-vote.

The PPRP and coalition parties’ draft received 598 votes for, 26 against with 12 abstentions.

Move Forward’s draft received 418 votes for, 202 against with 15 abstentions.

All four drafts achieved the 263-vote majority needed to clear the first reading.

The House meeting appointed 49 special committees to consider the approved draft bills. They will consist of eight Cabinet members, 14 senators, and 27 MPs from the PPRP, Pheu Thai, Democrat, Bhumjaithai, Move Forward, Thai Economic, Chartthaipattana, Thai Liberal and Prachachat parties.

The committees will have 15 days from March 1 to consider the draft bills for approval before they are sent back to Parliament for the second reading.

Related News

Democrat chief vows support for amending MP election, political parties laws

Prawit orders PPRP MPs to show up in full force at Parliament this week

Majority want PM to dissolve Parliament as soon as possible: NIDA poll

Published : February 25, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012681

Opposition leader Cholnan Srikaew on Wednesday submitted three bills seeking an amendment to the Constitution, which included making it mandatory for the prime minister be a member of Parliament and to better protect the rights of the people.

Cholnan, also the leader of the main opposition Pheu Thai Party, submitted the three charter amendment bills to Parliament President Chuan Leekpai.

One of the bills seeks to amend Section 159 and 160 of the 2019 Constitution, adding a requirement that the prime minister must be an MP.

Cholnan said the current Section 160 does not support the democratic principle that was stated in previous charters that the prime minister must come from MPs.

Another bill submitted by Cholnan seeks to amend Sections 25, 29, 29/1, 34, 44, 45, 47 and 48 to add several rights of Thai citizens.

The bill seeks to entitle all suspects to have the right to be released on bail and to ensure Thais have the right to demonstrate.

Cholnan said the bill will require the charter to clearly state that Thais have the right to receive free medical treatment and clearly state the rights of the disabled, the elderly, homeless people and people of unsound mental health so that they can receive proper care from the government.

He said the amendment bill is aimed at reducing the social gap.

Cholnan said the third amendment bill seeks to amend Section 43 of the 2019 charter to guarantee the people and communities’ the right to protect and manage the environment of their neighbourhood.

The bill also seeks to allow the people to sign and submit their demand for state agencies to stop any project that would affect their communities unless an environmental impact study and public hearings are held first, Cholnan added.

Published : February 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012662

The Rassadorn Prasong fund received a donation of more than 10 million baht in just three hours to help two pro-democracy activists post bail.

The Ratchada Criminal Court had earlier allowed the two activists, Arnon Nampa and Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, to be released on bail.

However, lawyer Norasate Nanongtoom took to Twitter on Tuesday at 5.54pm to say that the two did not have enough money for their bail, so he asked the public to help with donations.

The Rassadorn Prasong fund subsequently posted on Facebook at 9.33pm that it paid a bail amount of 2.07 million baht to the Ratchada Criminal Court for Arnon and Parit.

However, there are also cases against the two activists with the Bangkok South Criminal Court and Ayutthaya Provincial Court and the lawyer is applying for bail at these courts on Wednesday. If there are no other cases against the two, they should be released on Wednesday, he said.

An application to bail out two Thalugas protesters will also be filed on Wednesday after the Criminal Court refused a bail request on Tuesday.

Related News

Prawit orders PPRP MPs to show up in full force at Parliament this week

Democrat chief vows support for amending MP election, political parties laws

Government serious about dealing with human trafficking

Additionally, a bail application will be filed for an activist who splashed paint and was charged under Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code.

On Tuesday, the page paid a bail of 300,000 baht to the Thanyaburi Provincial Court and will apply for bail in yet another case on Wednesday.

The page is collecting receipts and will show them to the public on Wednesday.

Published : February 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012641

MPs from the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) were on Tuesday ordered to attend all Parliamentary meetings this week after yet another House meeting collapsed last week due to lack of a quorum.

This is the seventh time that the meeting has collapsed over quorum issues.

The order comes as Parliament is poised to vote on crucial amendments to organic laws on national elections and political parties.

Speaking to reporters after the PPRP meeting, party deputy leader Paiboon Nititawan said Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan, in his capacity as party chief, ordered all PPRP MPs to attend the House meeting on Wednesday and the joint House-Senate meeting on Thursday and Friday.

The PPRP whips informed the party that the House would deliberate several bills on Wednesday and the meeting is expected to continue until 9pm.

At the joint House-Senate meetings on Thursday and Friday, parliamentarians are scheduled to deliberate on bills that seek to amend organic laws on MP elections and political parties.

Amendments are needed to put in effect earlier approved charter amendments changing the electoral system into a two-ballot one for constituency MP and party-list MP elections.

When asked if Prawit had given any other special orders to PPRP MPs, Paiboon only said they had been told to attend all parliamentary meetings in full force. He said Prawit wants the ruling party to project an image of having the highest number of MPs attending all meetings.

He said the party has been keeping records and found that only eight of its 94 MPs have attended all 159 House meetings over the past three months. They are Kalaya Rungwichitchai (Saraburi), Chakkraphan Pornnimitr (Bangkok), Chakkarat Puachuay (Phetchabun), Pinyo Niroj (Nakhon Sawan), Somkiart Wonpian (Kanchanaburi), Somchai Wisanuwong (Kanchanaburi), Sanya Nilsuphan (Nakhon Sawan) and Iam Thongchai (Phetchabun).

Published : February 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012621

The Democrat Party will support bills to amend two organic laws on election of members of Parliament and political parties, the party leader said on Tuesday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said his party would definitely vote to accept the principles of two bills of the ruling coalition that seek to amend the organic laws on MPs election and on political parties approved earlier by the Cabinet.

Jurin said the planned amendments to the two organic laws are significant and are related to the charter amendments proposed by his party.

Apart from the versions of the coalition, there are also versions submitted by the opposition.

Jurin said it would depend on decisions of the coalition whips as to whether the coalition MPs would vote to accept the principal versions of the bills submitted by the opposition or not.

“I think all versions of the MPs election bills have similar principles,” Jurin said. “But I think some versions of the political parties bills are different so we must consider them and obey the joint decisions of coalition partners.”

One of the bills to amend the political parties law was proposed by the main opposition Pheu Thai Party. The party proposed amendments to Section 28 and 29 of the political parties law to allow outsiders to provide useful advice to parties.

Currently, a political party faces dissolution if it allows an outsider to influence or dominate the party’s directions and affairs.

The amendments seek to change the electoral system to use two ballots for constituency MP elections and for party-list MP elections. The number of constituency MPs will also be increased from 350 to 400 and the number of party-list MPs reduced from 150 to 100.

Jurin expressed confidence that the amendment bills would pass the first readings following deliberations expected on Thursday and Friday.

Published : February 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012612

The government is paying attention to tackling human trafficking, while security affairs agencies are ready to support its operations, the Defence Ministry said on Monday.

Ministry spokesman General Kongcheep Tantravanich issued the statement after opposition MPs highlighted the 2015 Rohingya trafficking case in Songkhla province during Friday’s special debate in Parliament.

The case had led to several police and military officers being sentenced for corruption and trafficking after the bodies of over 30 trafficked Rohingya were discovered in shallow graves on the southern border.

He said the government is following international human rights principles to help all people without discrimination.

“The government has cooperated with international organisations and networks to tackle human trafficking issues, which also includes prostitution both offline and online, as threatening and harming others is unacceptable,” he said.

He added that people can send clues related to human trafficking issues to government agencies, confirming that the government is ready to make efforts to tackle these issues.

Kongcheep added that the government had arrested a lot of suspects involved in the Rohingya trafficking case in 2015, adding it will continue the investigation once it receives more clues.

He said Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed military officers in border areas to arrest anyone who illegally sneaks into Thailand.

He said more officers have been deployed on border areas from where immigrants sneak into the country, especially the Thailand-Myanmar border, adding that surveillance has been increased.

“According to statistics, more than 200 immigrants were arrested daily; on February 20 alone up to 248 Myanmar immigrants were arrested in Kanchanaburi and Chanthaburi provinces,” he said.

He explained that the reasons the immigrants had sneaked into Thailand were due to the country’s high demand for labourers, the economic slowdown in neighbouring countries and the battle in border areas.

“However, security affairs agencies are ready to reopen the southern border in March, but it depends on the Covid-19 situation in Malaysia,” he said.

He added that negotiations on the reopening of the southern border has not been organised yet, but confirmed that Thailand is ready to reopen the border once the negotiation succeeds.

Published : February 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012578

The Interior Ministry and Election Commission (EC) will today decide the date of the long-anticipated elections for Bangkok’s governor and Pattaya’s mayor, plus their council members. The election days will fall on May 22 or May 29, depending on the results of today’s meeting.

The government has already given a rough date of May for both elections. It will be the first time a Bangkok governor has been elected since 2013, after which the 2014 coup put a freeze on all local and national elections.

The assigned dates for the Bangkok and Pattaya polls will be proposed to local authorities on Wednesday.

The Interior Ministry will then propose the dates to Cabinet on March 8, after which the elections must be held within 60 days.

With the Cabinet’s approval, the EC will announce the dates of the Bangkok governor and Pattaya mayor elections between March 21 and 31 and open registration five days after the announcement.

Meanwhile, local election commissions in Bangkok and Pattaya’s Chonburi are finalising constituency arrangements for submission to the national Election Commission.

In Bangkok, the election of a governor and 50 council members will be held in 50 districts across the capital.

For Pattaya, the Chonburi election commission has proposed three ways to arrange constituencies to the Election Commission. Pattaya voters will elect a new mayor along with 24 council members.

The timeline is as follows:

February 21: The Interior Ministry and EC decide the date of elections for Bangkok’s governor and Pattaya’s mayor, plus their council members. The election days will fall on May 22 or May 29, depending on the results of meeting.

February 23: The issue is proposed to local election committees.

March 8: The Interior Ministry proposes the election dates to Cabinet.

March 9-11: The Cabinet resolution is sent to the EC.

March 21-31: The EC announces the dates of the Bangkok governor and Pattaya mayor elections and opens registration five days later.

Published : February 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012556

Move Forward Party’s “progressive” liquor bill will boost social equality and create opportunities for businesses across the industry, the party’s MPs said on Saturday.

The bill, which promises to end the near-monopoly enjoyed by corporate brewers, is currently under 60-day review by Cabinet before going back to Parliament.

Speaking at a seminar to promote the bill on Saturday, Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat said Thai liquor entrepreneurs were bravely battling laws and injustice in efforts to export their products overseas.

He cited local speciality brews such as Phetchaburi’s palm liquor, Dao Loi made by an ethnic group, and the Saieb community’s liquor in Phrae.

He said he was familiar with brewing methods after spending time in New Zealand.

“During that time, the housekeeper told me about wine production process, so I know about its production costs and how to boost the value of grapes,” he said.

He added that he saw how to boost the value of agricultural products during his stint training with a family that produced rolled cigars in Cuba.

“One rolled cigar costs 15,000 baht, equal to one tonne of Thai rice. This proves that Thai agriculture works hard to gain low benefits, but others work easy to gain huge benefits.”

Pita said Thai local liquors could help boost the country’s economy, saying a five-star hotel had held a tasting session of 60 local liquors for its guests.

He added that the liquor bill will also benefit the packaging, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions), agriculture, education and labour industries, as well as the government.

He warned that the government and private sector would lose these opportunities if the bill was rejected.

“Approval of the progressive liquor bill will help boost Thailand after its years of hardship,” he added, referring to the Covid-19 crisis.

Meanwhile, Move Forward Party MP Woraphop Viriyaroj said the party would add more details to the bill, including a tax cut to boost local entrepreneurs’ competitiveness and tackle liquor smuggling. He said the Cabinet would launch a draft act on excise tax to support the liquor bill.

Fellow Move Forward MP Taopiphop Limjittrakorn said local entrepreneurs should be able to keep tax from liquor sales to develop their area or mitigate impacts from drinking alcohol.

He added that locals should be liquor production left to the discretion of locals as some areas – such as the Muslim-majority far South – may frown on the practice.

Meanwhile, the bill would enable provinces to use their local brews to promote tourism and boost agriculture,” he added.

Published : February 20, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012551

A former senior police officer who fled after his human trafficking probe led to the arrest of an Army general in 2015, has claimed “many more big fish would have been caught” if the probe had been allowed to continue.

Police Major General Paveen Pongsirin, now in asylum in Australia, said on Saturday that he had to flee Thailand more than six years ago after facing persecution from the Royal Thai Police, the government and powers-that-be at the time.

He thanked MP Rangsiman Rome, from the opposition Move Forward Party, for raising the issue of human trafficking and his plight during Friday’s general debate in the House of Representatives.

“I confirm that was what really happened,” Paveen said of Rangsiman’s allegations.

The former chief investigator appeared during an online meeting with Rangsiman and Progressive Movement leader Pannika Wanich, which was broadcast live on Move Forward’s Facebook page on Saturday.

Paveen said he has lived in Australia “like a refugee”, having to learn a new language and earn his living with no property.

“If Thailand had a true democracy at that time and the justice process had been allowed to run its course, I am confident that my investigation would have caught several more big fish,” he said.

His police probe led to the arrests of Lt-General Manas Kongpan and several local politicians, policemen and military officers for alleged involvement in a human trafficking ring.

The probe was launched after more than 30 shallow graves were discovered in an abandoned jungle camp in Songkhla province near the Malaysian border in May 2015. Most of the exhumed bodies were believed to be Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar and heading for Malaysia.

In July 2017, Lt-Gen Manas was convicted of trafficking and taking bribes and sentenced to 27 years in jail. He died of a heart attack while in prison in June 2021, at the age of 65.

In October 2015, Paveen – then a deputy commander of Region 8 Police covering southern provinces – was transferred to the Border Patrol Police operation centre in the southern border region. That put Paveen at the risk of retribution as the area was under the influence of the human trafficking ring involved.

After requesting asylum in Australia, Paveen was reprimanded for disobedience. He later resigned from the police force.

Speaking during Friday’s general debate, Rangsiman said the former senior police officer failed to receive state protection for doing his job properly.

The opposition MP questioned whether “people bigger than Lt-Gen Manas” were involved in the high-profile human trafficking case.

“Was anyone in this government involved? Was the obstruction of Pol Maj-Gen Paveen’s investigation intended to cut short the case?” Rangsiman asked.

He also noted that Thailand’s trafficking situation remained worrying years after the high-profile case, citing the latest Trafficking in Persons Report issued by the US Department of State in June last year.

The report downgraded Thailand to the Tier 2 Watch List. “The government of Thailand does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so,” it said.

Published : February 20, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012506

King Prajadhipok’s Institute has launched a website “BKK Follow-up” to provide what it calls “neutral and insightful information” about the upcoming Bangkok governor and Bangkok councillors’ elections.

King Prajadhipok’s Institute, which is a leading academic institute under the Thai Parliament, on Friday held a seminar to launch its website, whose address is https://elect.in.th/bkk-election.

The seminar was attended by Prof Wutthisarn Tanchai, secretary-general of the institute, Assoc Prof Orathai Kokpol, deputy secretary-general of the institute, Asst Prof Satithorn Thananithichote, director of the Office of Innovation for Democracy under the institute, and Assoc Prof Tavida Kamolvej, dean of Thammasat University’s Faculty of Political Science.

Wutthisarn said the website would be a platform that provides non-partisan information for the people to use to make their decisions in the upcoming Bangkok elections.

He said the institute decided to set up the platform because it regards that an important democratic role is to provide information to the people, so that they can have enough data for making their political decisions.

The secretary-general said it has become clearer that a Bangkok governor election would be held this year after the previous poll was held seven years ago.

Therefore, the institute would consult other academics on how to make the platform a modern tool that can answer the people’s questions related to the gubernatorial poll.

The Bangkok governor election was suspended after the May 22, 2014 coup. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has said a new Bangkok governor election would be held no later than the middle of this year and some governor aspirants have already introduced themselves to Bangkok voters.

Satithorn said the platform was developed because Bangkokians were quite interested in the upcoming elections.

He said information for the voters is very crucial and Bangkokians need more than information from candidates to weigh their decisions.

Orathai said the platform provides information on the history of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and various statistics, including the population of the capital, budget and problems specific to Bangkok districts.

The information will be available to the public and can be used by the media, she added.

She said the upcoming elections will be very crucial for Bangkok as both the governor and councillors will be elected at the same time.

Published : February 18, 2022

By : THE NATION