CTO Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 Well I wish he'd move houses! Very inconvenient roadblock on the short cut to Cowboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted August 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 PM’s TV ratings drop Audience interest in the “Confidence in Thailand with PM Abhisit†weekly TV programme on NBT has dropped substantially, the National Statistical Office (NSO) reported on Friday. NSO secretary-general Thannanuch Trithippayabutr said a survey on the government's popularity after six months in office found that the number of people interested in watching the prime minister's weekly TV programme dropped to 25.9 per cent in June. The response was 45.2 per cent when the NSO made a similar survey three months into the government's term, Mrs Thannanuch said. Asked about the government policies, the majority supported the 500 baht a month cost of living allowance for the elderly, healthcare for all and 15-years free education. They wanted more government policies that help ease people's economic hardship. Most also opposed the push to amend the charter. Projects opposed by more than 50 per cent of the respondents included community sufficiency economy, career sprout and one tambon, one product (Otop). The survey, from June 8 to 16, involved 3,900 households nationwide. http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/152387/rating-of-pm-s-tv-programme-drops Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted September 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 No plan for use of emergency decree There will be no need for an executive decree for administration in an emergency situation if there is a violent political incident while Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva attending the United Nations General Assembly, acting government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn said on Friday. He said the Internal Security Act (ISA) alone was effective enough to maintain law and order. Mr Abhisit will attend the UN meeting, in New York, from Sept 20-27. "That [the emergency law] is not necessary. The ISA is already enough. However, we have to keep the situation under watch," Mr Pathithan said. The spokesman said the prime minister will next week pay a visit to the Internal Security Operations Command headquarters to brief them on policy and listen to an assessment of the planned Sept 19 rally by the red-shirts before leaving for New York. Mr Panithan said the government will keep the public informed of the prime minister's activities during his trip abroad. via TV channel 11. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/154046/no-plan-for-emergency-law Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted November 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 Opposition asks Senate to censure PM Opposition chief whip Witthaya Buranasiri has called on senators to sign in support of a general no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for recalling the Thai ambassador to Cambodia. As the House of Representatives session had already closed opposition MPs could not bring on a no-confidence debate themselves, but under Article 161 of the 2007 Constitution, one-third of senators can sign their names in support of a meeting for a general debate of no-confidence. Mr Withaya said the censure debate was needed to determine whether the prime minister had violated the Article 82 of the charter on international relations. “The recall of the Thai ambassador seems to be a wrong foreign policy decision and it has widely affected the Thai people and hurt relations with Cambodia. It also has severely damaged the country,†the opposition whip said. Deputy Puea Thai spokesman Pitthaya Pugkaman, a former Thai ambassador, said the recall of the Thai senior envoy to Cambodia was an overreaction. The government should not have reverted to such strong diplomatic action so quickly, and should instead proceed with step by step retaliation. “I consider the government has let personal feelings decide its foreign relation policy. This has severely hurt economic, trade and investment ties between the two countries,†Mr Pitthaya said, adding that the situation could escalate if no action is quickly taken to ease tension. He said Mr Abhisit must be held responsibility for all consequences of the latest conflict http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/159297/call-for-censure-debate-against-pm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 How has the recall of the ambassador "severely damages the country"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted November 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 Govt scores poorly on economy Leading businessmen have given the government an average of 5.3 out of 10 for its performance in tackling economic problems over the past year. The finding is based on questions asked by the Thai Chamber of Commerce University of about 1,000 members of provincial chambers of commerce who attended a three-day annual meeting in Chiang Mai which ended yesterday. The respondents were made up of members of the private (85%) and government (15%) sectors. The results show the government "only narrowly passes the test", said Thanavath Phonvichai, director of the university's economic and business forecast centre. Business leaders from the central and northeast regions gave the government a 5.6 rating while those from the North rated the government 5.2 and those from the South gave it a 5.1. Businessmen from the eastern region gave the government just 4, mainly because they were unhappy with its failure to settle a dispute involving investment projects in the Map Ta Phut industrial estate. Most respondents felt political instability was the major factor hurting the economy, followed by the global economic recession and the rising price of oil and raw materials. Political unrest was the most urgent issue needing a government solution, although 90% of respondents said they also wanted the government to tackle corruption. Almost 40% of respondents believed the economy would recover in the first half of next year as a result of government investment projects and increasing farm commodity prices. The survey also found there were no signs of lay-offs and employment was beginning to rise, Mr Thanavath said. "Most people in the private sector are worried the economic recovery remains fragile," he said. "Most respondents have projected Thailand's economic growth at 2% to 3% next year, which is below the government's forecast. This is because of political conflict, the appreciation of the baht and the Dubai World banking crisis." Most respondents back the Thai Kem Kaeng scheme as a means to stimulate the economy, and the debt refinancing programme to tackle loan sharks. Chamber chairman Dusit Nontanakorn said the Thai Chamber of Commerce would recommend national economic strategies to the government this week. The plans are aimed at developing the economy, helping it adapt to global changes and paving the way for the establishment of the Asean Economic Community. The strategies call for the development of the upper northern region, covering Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang and Mae Hong Son, into a centre of tourism and culture, and a production base to process fruit and vegetable for exports. The upper northeastern region, covering Udon Thani, Nong Khai, Loei and Nong Bua Lam Phu, would become a commercial, investment, tourism and transport hub for the Mekong subregion. The lower northeastern provinces, covering Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Surin and Buri Ram, would be developed into a hub for alternative energy and a base to produce and export silk products and Hom Mali rice. The upper central region, such as Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Ayutthaya, would serve as a base to produce hi-tech industrial products. The southern border provinces, covering Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Satun and Songkhla, would be made a base to produce and export halal food and to process rubber. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/28331/govt-scores-poorly-on-economy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted December 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 Govt's first-year report on Dec 23 Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will report to the nation on the government's first year in office on Dec 23, with the emphasis on measures taken to solve the economic crisis, PM's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey said on Friday. Mr Sathit said the prime minister will also speak on the government's investment plans and plans for 2010. The statement would cover how the government has enforced law under the constitution to protect the country's main institutions and explain what it had done to cope with political conflict including the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship's protest in April. "The government will stress its intention to not create conditions that cause conflict in society," Mr Sathit said. The minister said the government was ready to be grilled by the opposition in a no-confidence debate expected to held when parliament reopens in January next year. On Dec 14, the government will also announce how copies of His Majesty the King's birthday speech on Dec 5 calling for unity will be distributed. This would include include 9,999,999 copies of a pocket calendar, car stickers and copies of the text of His Majesty the King's speech. http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/162410/govt-one-year-work-report-due-on-dec-23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted January 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 Democrats won't back charter changes motion The executive committee of the Democrat Party on Tuesday decided not to support their government coalition partners in their proposal to amend two key points of the 2007 constitution, Democrat Party spokesman Buranat Samutarak said. There was only one absentee when the 19-member executive committee began its meeting at 2pm. The absent member was Chinnaworn Boonyakiat. [color:red]After about 20 minutes of discussion, the executive committee decided not to join the five other coalition parties - Bhumjaithai, Chart Thai Pattana, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, Puea Pandin, and Social Action - in signing a charter amendment motion.[/color] The five smaller parties want to amend Section 190, which requires all international agreements to receive prior parliamentary approval, and Section 94, which concerns the electoral system. They want the multi-MP constituency system currently in use replaced by a single-seat constituency system. They believe the present system favours the bigger and better financed parties. Democrat MPs have been deeply divided over the proposed electoral system change and were unable to agree at a party meeting over the weekend. The executive committee's decision means the five smaller coalition parties will submit the amendment motion on their own. The Democrat executive did not announce whether their party's MPs would be allowed a free vote on the amendments in parliament. The party's MPs were to decide this matter themselves at a meeting later on Tuesday. Mr Buranat said the executive committee's decision would not lead to conflict with the other coalition parties. He believed the Democrat's partners would understand. The party had long ago made it known that it was against amending the charter. Democrat Party chief adviser and former prime minister Chuan Leekpai said he prefers the multiple-MP constituency system to the single-seat format because it reduces the incidence of vote buying. "The single-seat format increases the chances of vote buying while the multiple-MP system reduces the chances, but it doesn't mean that the multi-MP system will end vote buying," he said. The majority of Democrat MPs think multiple-seat electorates benefit the country more in the current situation, but this could change in the future, he said. He warned, however, that failing to support the other coalition parties in their demand for a change cause problems for the Democrat-led government. [color:red]Chart Thai Pattana Party leader Chumpol Silpa-archa said the five smaller coalition parties will go ahead and submit their motion to parliament for two amendments to the constitution even though the Democrat Party had decided not to support it.[/color] He said the five parties have sufficient MPs to sign it. Drafting of the charter amendment motion was complete and it would be presented to all supporting parties on Wednesday. A decision would then be made when to submit it to the House of Representatives. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/166560/democrat-won-t-back-charter-changes-motion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted January 27, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 Government days are numbered The Chart Thai Pattana Party warns the ruling Democrats that the government's days could be numbered if they decide not to join other coalition parties in amending the constitution. Chart Thai Pattana prominent figure Somsak Prissanananthakul said on Wednesday that the Democrat Party's decision against charter changes was not unexpected. "I'm not disappointed. I've never given any hope [to the Democrats] since they have been trying to prolong this issue for nearly a year even if agreements have been made earlier," Mr Somsak said. "The Chart Thai Pattana Party will propose changes to the constitution to the parliament without asking for the Democrats' support again." He said Prime Minister and Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva would be responsible for calling for a house dissolution because of the problems concerning charter amendments, but the countdown for the government had already begun. He believed the Chart Thai Pattana Party and other parties would be ready for a general election if the charter was not amended. Chart Thai Pattana leader Chumpol Silpa-archa said the coalition parties would not be affected by the Democrat's decision and the draft amendents will remain unchanged. Bhumjaithai Party leader Boonjong Wongtrairat siad the Democrat's decision could lead to more problems in the coalition. However, Mr Boonjong said, he would like the Democrats to remember the deals made when they were forming a government and one of them was charter changes. "The Bhumjaithai Party has kept its words but not the Democrats. The Bhumjaithai members might have to meet to discuss how they can work with the coalition partners and the censure debate," he said. Coalition parties - the Bhumjaithai, Chart Thai Pattana, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, Puea Pandin and Social Action - are changes to the voting system from multi-seat constituencies to single seat and the signing of international treaties http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/166644/government-days-are-numbered Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted January 27, 2010 Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 A sampling of the locals out here...the Thai with money, love this gov...the poor/low class Thais hate this gov. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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