The New Senate Will Consist Of 150 Members

[chownah]

The overwhelming margin of victory for Rosana, a staunch and original opponent of Thaksinocracy, could be interpreted to mean that people in Bangkok would like to see the Senate act as a truly independent body.

I think that have a truly independent senate would be a good thing....it is also a very difficult thing to accomplish....having military coups does not help to bring about a truly independent senate....having some of the senators apponted does not make them independent of those doing the appointing...and being elected does not make them independent of the constituency which did the electing.

I think that perhaps the only thing that can be done is to educate the Thai people about the benefits of having seperation of powers as a major part of Thai governmental system...and by in some way developing the ideal that the seperation of powers is more important than partisan interests....I think one of the main problems in Thailand is that partisan interests is the highest ideal (maybe the ONLY ideal) for government....this is probably all that most Thais have seen.

Chownah

[sriracha john]

Keep an eye on the Senate

Putting the right person in the Speaker's chair is crucial

Society needs to keep a watchful eye on the contest for the post of Senate Speaker, a key checks and balance mechanism in parliament. Several appointed and elected senators have indicated their interest in the job. At least two appointed senators are serious contenders - former Appeals Court Chief Judge and former Council of State member Prasobsuk Boondech, and Gen Lertrat Rattanawanich, a former Defence Ministry Inspector-General. Possible contenders from the elected group are Manote Kraiwong of Surat Thani and Direk Thuengfang of Nonthaburi. Some elected senators say they also plan to nominate Bangkok Senator Rosana Tositrakul, who won a landslide victory in the March 2 polls. Both groups are to meet informally on Wednesday, before Friday's vote. Neutrality is unquestionably one of the most important credentials for senators, and in particular the Senate Speaker. We remember how the lack of impartiality in such high positions marred the performance of the upper house in the past. Former Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua was considered a nominee of the government of then PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/10Mar2008_news08.php

[sriracha john]

Prasopsuk said to be leading race for Speaker's job

Former Appeals Court Chief Judge Prasopsuk Boondech is rumoured to be leading the race for the Senate Speaker's job, which will be decided when the upper house convenes to vote tomorrow. Prasopsuk is among six senators who put themselves forward for the position during an unofficial meeting at parliament yesterday to discuss possible contenders for the Senate Speaker and two Deputy Speaker positions. All of the Speaker hopefuls professed their political neutrality and said they would not allow the upper house to be tainted by political interference as it was alleged to have been when Thaksin Shinawatra was in power.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/13Mar2008_news11.php

[sriracha john]

Old habits die hard....

Senate to pick Speaker today at first meet

Race seen as marred by cash-for-votes offers

The Senate will convene its first meeting today to select the Senate Speaker amid allegations that the race for the post has been marred by cash-for-votes offers. Former politicians have called some senators, offering to pay them money if they vote for candidates they support. Somchai Sawaengkarn, an appointed senator, said a former politician called to ask him to vote for a particular candidate as Senate Speaker. Somchai said the politician offered him a sum of money in exchange for his vote. He said he declined the offer. He said if the former politician continues to act like this, he would make his name public. Somchai added that a friendly atmosphere had dominated yesterday's informal meeting between appointed and elected senators. There were no signs of division between them, which should bode well for unity among members of the upper house, he said. Naruemon Siriwat, an elected senator from Uttaradit, confirmed that lobbying had taken place, with offers of money made by politicians. She said she was also wooed with money by politicians to vote in the selection of the Senate Speaker.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/14Mar2008_news12.php

[sriracha john]

Thaksin supporters lose bid to lead Thai senate

BANGKOK - A former senior judge was elected leader of Thailand's Senate on Friday, defeating a rival candidate backed by supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Former Appeals Court Chief Prasopsuk Boondech was among four senators vying to become Speaker of the 150-member upper house that is meant to act as a check on the pro-Thaksin government elected in December after a 2006 coup.

Under the 2007 constitution, the new Senate consists of 76 elected members and 74 appointed by top civil servants.

It can pass laws, appoint independent watchdog bodies and recall cabinet ministers, top legislators and judges accused of corruption.

Pro-Thaksin senators had backed Taweesak Kidbanjong, a former provincial governor from the northeast, Thaksin's heartland, for the Speaker's post.

"The fact that Prasopsuk won the vote instead of other candidates known to be close to politicians in the government is a good start for the integrity of this Senate," television commentator and former senator Chirmsak Pinthong said.

- Reuters

[sriracha john]

Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondet (in the middle)

Senate Selects Speaker and Deputies

The Senate has selected appointed Senator Prasobsuk Boondej as its Speaker, with an overwhelming 78 votes.

The Senate meeting started at 10am with Senator Kamol Prajuabmoh, the most senior member, acting as temporary Speaker. 144 senators attended the meeting.

The senators pledged to carry out their duties with integrity before agreeing to go by the Senate regulations of 2001 to select the Senate Speaker and two Deputies.

Four senators were proposed for the post of Senate Speaker, two of whom were appointed senators, namely Prasobsuk Boondej and General Lertrat Ratanawanit; while two were elected senators, namely, Buriram Senator Taweesak Kidbanjong, and Surat Thani Senator Manoj Kraiwong.

Each candidate were then given a chance to speak before a secret balloting.

Appointed Senator Prasobsuk received 78 votes, more than half the number of those who attended the meeting at 72, thus he was named the new Senate Speaker.

Buriram Senator Taweesak came in second, far behind the winner with 45 votes, followed by appointed Senator Lertrat with 15 votes and Surat Thani Senator Manoj with six votes.

During the speech before the vote, Prasobsuk promised to work independently and not be swayed by interference from politicians. He said with his experience as a former judge, he will uphold the law and work with transparency for the benefit of the public. He said he doesn't want to the set the number of years he will be in power, but is ready for his colleagues and the media to assess his performance.

Speculations have come out that politicians have tried to interfere in the selection of the Senate Speaker with one million baht offered to each senator to sway votes and if a senator can persuade five others to join in the vote, that senator will be rewarded with a Chairmanship post of a Senate Committee.

Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn affirmed with his colleagues that politicians did approach senators to lobby for votes for the Senate Speaker post but they offered a monthly payment instead of the million baht in cash or a car as speculated.

The meeting has also selected Nikom Waiyaratchapanich as the First Deputy Senate Speaker after two rounds of voting. There were four candidates for this post and Nikom received 68 votes in the first round of voting with Paibul Samsiripong receiving 52 votes.

For the Second Deputy Senate Speaker post, female senators had earlier gathered to demand a woman be appointed to this post. A total of five female senators were proposed, but Bangkok Senator Rosana Tositrakul withdrew from the race. After two rounds of voting, Tasana Boonthong was chosen as the Second Deputy Senate Speaker.

- Thailand Outlook

[sriracha john]

Prasopsuk elected Speaker of Thai Senate

BANGKOK - Former Appeals Court President Prasopsuk Boondej was voted Thailand's new Speaker of the Senate Friday.

Mr. Prasopsuk, who was among the 74 senators earlier chosen by independent agencies, won 78 votes from a total of 144 senators, compared to 45 votes for [buriram Senator] Thaweesak Khidbanchong, who was considered as a close associate of former [Thaksin Cabinet] minister [and banned TRT Party executive] Newin Chidchob.

During a vision debate held prior to the voting for Senate Speaker, Mr. Prasopsuk vowed to remain neutral, transparent and independent of external influences and called on his colleagues to monitor his legislative roles on regular basis.

The former Appeals Court President pledged to resign without hesitation if he was ever involved in any unbecoming scandal or had his performance evaluated as poor and dissatisfactory by his colleagues.

The 63-year-old Senate speaker was once a judge attached to the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of the Central Court on Intellectual Property and International Trade before he became President of the Appeals Court.

- TNA

[sriracha john]

Thaksin supporters lose bid to lead Thai senate

BANGKOK - A former senior judge was elected leader of Thailand's Senate on Friday, defeating a rival candidate backed by supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

- Reuters

a slightly different headline interpretation of the Reuters' article...

Thaksin not elected as senate leader

Reuters

BANGKOK: A former senior judge was elected leader of Thailand's Senate on Friday, defeating a rival candidate backed by supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

(from the online news website):

[sriracha john]

Bangkok Senator says committee should be formed to inspect vote buying during Upper House meeting

Senator of Bangkok Rossana Tohsritrakul commented that a special committee should be established to investigate whether or not vote buying occurred during the Upper House selection of its Speaker and Deputies. She stated that after Mr. Somchai Sawaengkarn revealed that individuals had attempted to coerce him into siding with them, a probe would help to cleanse the Senate.

Ms. Rossana stated that an inspection of the phone number Mr. Somchai cited as that of the person who attempted to coerce him matched with his story, she decided to give her support to calls in the Upper House to audit the past meeting's election.

The Bangkok Senator said that the probe is needed to ensure the Senate has no subversive elements that may tarnish its image. She also said that the forming of the committee and following investigation would be the first major Senate project that would help to show what it is capable of.

- ThaiNews

[sriracha john]

First Meeting of Upper Chamber

The Upper House is considering setting up an ad-hoc panel to investigate the kickback scandal on the vote for its Speaker.

Speaking on the occasion of the Senate's first official meeting, Speaker Prasopsuk Boondet pledges he will perform his duties with integrity and urges all 150 Upper Chamber members to attend all weekly meetings, to be held on Fridays at 9:30am.

On the agenda for today's meeting is the selection of members for the Judiciary Commission, the establishment of an ad-hoc committee responsible for the regulation drafting of Senate meetings, and the ad-hoc panel investigating the kickback on the recent vote in the selection of the Senate Speaker.

Before the meeting, Buri Ram Senator Thaweesak Kidbanjong said he agrees with the investigation into the scandal but claimed he has discussed the matter with other Upper House members and found that no one was paid kickbacks.

Meanwhile, Bangkok Senator, Rosana Tositrakul, says she is ready to work as a member of the ad-hoc committee responsible for the investigation into the matter and supports appointed senator Colonel Lieutenant Kamol Prajuabmor to chair the panel.

Rosana also reveals she is interested in acting as a member of the ad-hoc committee responsible for the drafting of regulations of Senate meetings in order to help facilitate the Upper House's examination into corruption complaints. She adds that the impeachment process against political post holders is usually hindered when under deliberation of the Senate as its verification of the names of people who sign the petition has no time frame.

17 Senators have been selected as members of the ad-hoc commitee responsible for the selection of the members of the Judiciary Commission. The committee is given 45 days to conclude its selection and verification of the qualifications of the candidates.

- Thailand Outlook (today)

[sriracha john]

Chumpol attacks last Senators for being 'slaves' to politicians

Interference rife, ex-members charge in raft of accusations of misconduct

Former senators yesterday warned the new upper House members against repeating the same mistakes and misconduct committed by the "Senate of Slaves", especially by allowing political interference or siding with political parties.

They were referring to the country's first elected Senate of 2000.

At a seminar on the role of senators in Senate committees in Chon Buri, Chumpol Silpa-archa, a former senator elected in 2000, revealed how others lobbied to get the post of Chairman on the powerful Economic and Agricultural Committees.

He said the "Senate of Slaves" was notorious for having several factions. "Powerful politicians would invite senators to be part of their camps. They would get together and have dinner in luxurious hotels. If you belonged to a group, you could request 'welfare' such as cars, houses or foreign trips, or even legal assistance for court cases," Chumpol said.

He said there was heavy political interference. The speaker was always on the phone with the ex-premier.

"The senators applauded the premier, opened the car door for him, appointed his brother as adviser. I hope the new senators will not do such things," he said.

Chumpol said the "Senate of Slaves" was also accused of failing to appoint neutral independent agencies, especially the three former election commissioners, who were convicted of violating election law in the April 2006 national polls.

"Some senators received extra allowances from politicians. Money was put into 42 envelopes and distributed at a hotel on Ratchadaphisek Road," he said.

Chumpol called on the new Senate Speaker not to appoint 44 advisers as the first elected speaker did. He urged senators not to throw their weight about with parliament officials.

He accused former senators of misconduct, saying some sent their girlfriends to sign their names at meetings so they could received their allowances.

"It was quite disgusting and I hope this time no senator is allowed to sit on more than three Senate committees," he said.

"Some of them also took their families or mistresses with them on overseas trips, and the expenses were paid by the House. Instead of going for inspection or educational tours as part of their work, they went shopping. They also acted big and appalled other passengers on the plane."

He called for the setting up of a standing committee that monitors the behaviour of senators. He said the Senate Speaker plays a significant role in keeping the Senate's image clean. "If the head does not roll, the tail will not wag," he said.

Former senator Maleerat Kaewka said she was offered monthly allowances to side with a political party. She warned incumbent senators to beware of inducements.

- The Nation (today)