Nccc To Prosecute Samak Cabinet Over Joint Comminique

[sriracha john]

The charge concerns violation of article 190 of the Constitution, which states that any agreement that pertains to the country's sovereignty must be approved by Parliament before it can be signed by the government.

There's that darn ol' Constitution-thingy getting in the way again of allowing these muppets do to do whatever the frick they want to without any other checks and balances.

Best if they target that one for Amendment, too.

It'd be far better if they just allowed the Cabinet to do whatever it wants by issuing edicts and decrees, then they wouldn't have to worry about things as trivial as laws and the Constitution.

Edited November 15, 2008 by sriracha john

[Plus]

.What on earth's business is this -prima facie a perfectly reasonable Cabinet decision- of the NCCC?

Little thing called constitution.

There's a separate thread for the temple row itself. Even without going into arguments - Noppadon has hijacked the process, fired the key man in negotiations and came up with "Let's suck up to Hun Sen" strategy instead. Ok, you can argue that his strategy was called something else - the essense is still the same.

All behind the closed curtains, which was against the constitution. When people heard about it there was an outcry that wasn't restricted to PAD only.

But wait, these protesting people are too ignorant to understand, the govt knows what is best for them, they don't need to be asked. I've heard this argument before - except it was PAD and farmers.

[Gravelrash]

The TRT/PPP are just a bunch of corrupt bastards who don't give a flying fuc_k about the country or its economy; only themselves and thieir scummy cronies are the be-all and end-all.

Am I alone in thinking this?

Not sure if you are alone in thinking that, but hopefully you are alone in your eloquence for self expression. By the way, your point was...?

[sriracha john]

The TRT/PPP are just a bunch of corrupt bastards who don't give a flying fuc_k about the country or its economy; only themselves and thieir scummy cronies are the be-all and end-all.

Am I alone in thinking this?

The OP covers the PPP side of things... this one originated on the TRT side of things... and continued after that...

Former TRT MP and Deputy Interior Minister in the Thaksin Cabinet Sombat Uthaisang

NCCC to indict former Deputy Interior Minister Sombat Uthaisang

The National Counter-Corruption Commission (NCCC) will indict former Deputy Interior Minister Sombat Uthaisang for failing to report his wealth properly, NCCC spokesman Klanarong Chantik said yesterday.

The anti-graft agency voted unanimously on Thursday to take the case against Sombat to the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders.

Sombat faces a five-year ban from politics if he is found guilty in court.

Klanarong said it had been found that Sombat had intentionally filed false information with the NCCC when he was required by law to report his assets and debts after assuming the posts of Deputy Interior Minister, Chairman of state-run TOT's Executive Board, and Adviser to the Minister for Information and Communications Technology.

In his nine separate financial reports filed with the NACC, Sombat failed to mention bank accounts his wife held jointly with their adult son.

Balances in those accounts ranged from 86.2 Million Baht to 111.5 Million Baht while Sombat was holding the positions mentioned, Klanarong said.

The NCCC was not convinced by Sombat's explanation that his wife had seen no need to report the bank accounts since their son was not a minor. However, the anti-graft agency found that the money in the accounts belonged to Sombat and his wife and thus warranted disclosure.

The Anti-Corruption Act requires political office-holders to report the assets and debts of themselves, their spouses, and their minor children to the NCCC. Each office-holder files a report shortly after assuming office, shortly after leaving office, and one year after leaving office.

- The Nation / 2008-11-15

Edited November 16, 2008 by sriracha john

[Journalist]

Cue Sjak and Journalist to defend Somchai and co, because it's all for the "People" with capital P.

Au contraire, I don't approve of TRT or PPP.

The only thing I find take issue with is your one-dimensional view of the situation. Your insistence that anyone is better than the current lot. And you insistence (over thousands of posts and insults), that there is no other tolerable view apart from your own.

I personally don't believe that the military will install any modern transparent democratic government in Thailand. Because it is not in their own selfish interests to so.

[sriracha john]

it should be pointed regarding the headline, that most of those facing charges are also current Cabinet Members...

Ex-Cabinet members to face charges

The National Counter-Corruption Commission will today bring charges against 28 ministers of the Samak Cabinet for violating Article 190 of the Constitution by endorsing the June 17 Cabinet resolution supporting Cambodia's listing of the Preah Vihear Temple as a World heritage site without seeking House approval.

One of the 28 people is Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, then Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister.

After the 28 people are informed of the charges against them, they must prepare their defence within 15 days, with two postponements allowed.

Those waiting for the results of the Cabinet meeting tomorrow will have to be patient, as the meeting has been deferred to Wednesday. Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat is leaving for Peru to join the 16th APEC leaders' summit.

During the APEC meeting, the mobile Truth Today show moves to Suan Kaew Temple in Nonthaburi on Sunday for its third stop. Abbot Phra Payom Kalayano will preach on the show.

Veera Musikapong and Jatuporn Prompan, the show's organisers, inspected the temple last Wednesday and sought assistance from police to provide security on Sunday. Colonel Samrerng Ngarmrat, Superintendent of Bang Yai Police Station, said 500 officers would be deployed and checkpoints would be set up. Only two entrances to the temple would be opened and cars would be banned from parking inside.

The abbot banned the hosts from making any accusations at his temple, as he did not want it to turn into a battleground between two opposing sides.

- The Nation / 2008-11-17

[Plus]

anyone is better than the current lot.

Anyone working for the country is better than the government working for Thaksin. That's basics - the government should serve the people, however shitty it is.

[Journalist]

^I am a Democrat supporter and i'd have liked to have seen Abhisit winning the election two years ago.

But your 'power at all costs' rhetoric (over thousands of identikit posts) doesn't even persuade me (so god knows what chance it has of illuminating anyone else)

No true Democrat wants power derived from the muzzle of a gun. or from having the process nobbled by restricted suffrage, or some fancy-schmanzy 'new politics' with its embedded anachronistic old monsters and gunslingers. It took years for the Democrats to get rid of the ghastly Gen Sanan Kachornprasart and his ilk.

A flawed civilian regime is better than abandoning basic principals, and in nearly every SE Asian country, opposition parties have won elections in respectable time frames.

[animatic]

Maybe it will just take showing the other side for it's true self,

to convince the general public that is NOT the way to go.

Still the waiting till then is a fundamental problem...

What happens while we wait for Democratic due process,

Is "DUE PROCESS" to be erased from the equasion by the other side.

Worrisome....

[Plus]

Journalist, I think you still don't get what I say - I don't really care who is in the government as long as they work for the people, not for Thaksin.

Yes, I prefer Democrats, too, but a year or two under PPP to expose their inaptitude would be the great lesson for the country, too. People would appreciate Dems better after that.

What happens now has nothing to do with governing whatsoever, PPP is all fixated on saving Thaksin's ass. That's NOT what the government should be doing and it should be removed one way or another. Being inefficient is not a sin, not a big one at least, working to subvert the system is. Somchai and co should really be tried for treason, if only there was enough admissable evidence.

[sriracha john]

Yet another Thai soldier lost his life yesterday over this governmental fiasco...

Thai Soldier Killed by Land Mine Near Preah Vihear Temple

The commander of the Suranaree Task Force has confirmed that one soldier stationed near the disputed area near the famed Preah Vihear Temple has been killed by a land mine.

Suranaree Task Force commander, Major-General Kanok Netrakavaesana has confirmed earlier reports, which suggested that a Thai soldier was just killed by land mine near Preah Vihear Temple.

Major General Kanok said 22-year-old Private Weerayuth Kaensarn has accidentally stepped on a land mine while he patrolling the area near Tambon Rung, Kantaraluk District of Si Saket Province, which is around three kilometers away from Preah Vihear Temple.

Weeyayuth was instantly killed by the explosion Sunday afternoon.

Major General Kanok said his body has been sent via helicopter to Sappasitprasong Hospital to be prepared for the funeral rite. The Suranaree Task Force commander added that Weerayuth’s death was an accident that is hard to be prevented, especially when a large number of land mines remain buried and unidentified along the Thai-Cambodian borderline.

He admitted that even though Thai bomb squads have made several attempts to recover them, many remain undiscovered.

Major General Kanok also stated that the family of Weerayuth will receive the necessary assistance from the Defense Ministry

- TOC / 2008-11-17

Edited November 17, 2008 by sriracha john

[animatic]

My condolences to the family.

He was doing his duty, and as such knew the risk.

But such a sad wasted effort to protect the country,

since the political sphere has dropped the ball utterly...

Edited November 17, 2008 by animatic