Thai Parliamentary Panels Law: Better Late Than Never

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EDITORIAL

Parliamentary panels law: better late than never

By The Nation

Amid the charter circus, at least a good bill is squeezing its way through

It's better be late than nothing. The House of Representatives last Wednesday passed a "parliamentary committees" bill that hopefully will give more teeth to lawmakers. Given the obvious merits and benefits to the legislative branch, we can't help but wonder why it has taken the lower House so long to conceptualize the bill and pass it. While we can be encouraged by the passage, the long wait may say a lot about our political system.

It was passed by a vote of 173-144 and will go to the Senate next. It was not smooth sailing, apparently, and the obvious irony is that, while we always cry for democracy and freedom, our politicians are split about when it comes to how much power Parliament should have to counter-balance other mechanisms of our fragile democracy.

The bill states that those who submit false documents or make false statements to a parliamentary committee are liable to up to two years in jail and/or a fine of up to Bt4,000. Those who refuse to show up after having been summoned would be liable to up six months in jail and/or fine of up to Bt10,000.

In some Western countries, giving testimony to the Parliament is a big deal. There are television stations and media outlets, like C-Span, for example, dedicated to such events. It's raw and uncut, and the public gets to see their elected representatives get to work when they grill experts, government officials and ministers on whatever is on the table each day.

We have a considerably lively Parliament, but that stops at the main assembly hall, where Thai MPs have a tendency to go overboard and put on a show for their constituents. Such sessions have always been marred by childish bickering and add little to public knowledge or perspectives on crucial issues. Parliamentary committees, on the other hand, have been unable to contribute to healthy democracy by playing an effective check-and-balance role. They are often disregarded by the people summoned and consequently overlooked or ignored by the media.

Parliamentary committees have rarely been able to showcase people who really matter when conducting inquiries. When the bill is passed and becomes law, it will be a great first step. After that it will be up to the politicians themselves to make effective use of the new law. Will it become a case of "selective enforcement" if a summoned individual does not showed up to testify? Will the committee have the guts to strike them down with their newly mandated power?

We can have real hope only after our MPs realize that they are part of a precious balancing force in a democracy, not a rubber stamp or protector of the executive branch. In a strong and functioning democracy, parliamentary committees should play big roles in searching for truth and providing serious checks and balances. Surely they can and should do more than just raising their hands to approve whatever their party demands of them.

Also last week, Thailand witnessed a fresh demonstration of our political chostcomings. From the look of it, the triangular showdown over proposed charter amendments is nothing more than a political game between big and small parties as well as rival political activist groups. Each will benefit differently from different electoral systems.

One reading is that big constituencies benefit big parties while small constituencies benefit smaller parties because canvassing will be easier and vote-buying will cost less. Whatever results, they will have little effect on the population's well-being. So much for clamouring for political reform.

Thai people deserve better. At the least, public interest should be at the heart of the discussion, not how much time or vote-buying money a candidate can save when they go out and make their promises. The bill to enhance parliamentary committees' roles must be taken seriously, so we will at least have something to cheer about when the circus over how big an electoral constituency should be reaches a fever pitch.

-- The Nation 2010-11-29

[jonclark]

Woah...4'000 Baht fine I bet politicians are absolutely sh**ing themselevs with fear. Eighty quid fine roughly for making a false statement to parlimentary committee. Hardly a deterent is it? Add a couple of zeros and it starts to have some teeth.

[asiawatcher]

Pass the bill for political credos but make it so light in penalty of compliance no-one will take any notice. Typical Thailand. You would think if a representative of the people were to make false and misleading statements the penalty should be much more severe than petty cash and especially as they can afford it - not even a night at the local Massage Parlour with their Gik!