Thai Key Law Passed As Some MPs Keep Their Word

[webfact]

Key law passed as some MPs keep their word

By Kornchanok Raksaseri

The Nation

After 10 years of fighting for their rights, what else could bring more delight to displaced Thais than to learn that the nationality bill had been finally passed by the House of Representatives?

The enactment would never have happened had some key legislators not kept their words.

A group of displaced persons came to Parliament to see for themselves yesterday that the law was passed. One big fear in their, and many MPs',

minds was an early adjournment of the House because of a lack of quorum, as has happened six times already this year.

Yesterday was the seventh time that a House meeting had to be cut short, although it was expected to be the last one of this parliamentary session.

Luckily, the House adjournment took place after the nationality bill had already been approved. Otherwise, their decade-long campaign would have been in vain.

The bill was passed by a 257-0 vote, with two abstentions and three MPs in the chamber not voting.

At least, up to 262 of the current total of 472 MPs were in the chamber, 25 over the minimum to form a quorum.

At a news conference later, the displaced persons - who lost their nationality when their homes were considered to be lying outside Thai territory after new boundary demarcations - revealed the support behind their success.

Late in January, the group of displaced persons, from Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Tak and Trat, marched on foot to Bangkok to see the legislators and call for the law to return Thai citizenship to them and also their descendants.

This week, the group of people with Thai blood who are currently stateless visited the lawmakers many times.

House Speaker Chai Chidchob, government chief whip Wittaya Kaewparadai and opposition chief whip Wittaya Buranasiri all promised them the bill would go through smoothly.

If the House is really dissolved this week, as Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has said he would do, the bill will be the last law passed by the current House.

The stateless people owed a lot to the key MPs. What could have happened without their conviction?

After passing the bills for an independent body on environmental issues and financial compensation, Chai called on the MPs to come back into the chamber and prepare to vote.

"I wish I could put Super Glue on to keep you [MPs] stuck to your seats … Won't you have mercy on me?" the 83-year-old House Speaker said jokingly while ringing the bell for MPs to return to their seats before a quorum check.

"Your Excellencies, please don't do anything else now. We have some unfinished issues to consider. We'll vote to make it clear which bills we'll pass or drop. Let's finish this first," Chai said.

Yesterday's meeting was set to open at 9am, but it actually started at 10.42am when the required minimum number of MPs had signed in.

Most of them did not stay in the chamber but met, chatted or had refreshments with their colleagues elsewhere in Parliament House.

"Please don't go too far away. I hope you didn't sign in and then go back home, Your Excellencies," Chai said.

At that time, the Democrats' Wittaya was looking around pleased amid his party's MPs while the other Wittaya was checking on dozens of his Pheu Thai Party MPs.

About 400 MPs had signed in but by 4.20pm, only 194 were still left in the chamber.

The legislators were discussing the laws related to Thai traditional medicine while the bills on consumer protection and the rubber business were still waiting their turn.

The thin attendance was not unexpected, considering the recent behaviour of MPs.

After learning the number of MPs remaining in the chamber, Deputy House Speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai - the chairman at that time - closed the meeting.

He said the unfinished business had to be postponed for the next batch of representatives to consider. He then wished all good luck to come back as MPs.

To be reasonable, Apiwan's wish should be limited to only the MPs present in the chamber at that time. Who would ever want politicians who skip House meetings back as MPs?

-- The Nation 2011-05-05

[animatic]

I once encountered old friends of someone , in the country, who's family lived on the same property in the same house for 215 years. At one point about 90-100 years ago now, a surveyor team made a mistake and placed the town line 200 yards east of their house, and accidentally changed their town.

The man was born during that time. 10 years later another survey caught the mistake and placed their farm back in the original town. By this time he had been a school child in the other town. He transfered schools with the town change back. So for the kids he was a new kid in town and the school. Yet his great, great, great, grandfather on down, had grown up in the town, in the same house. Except those 10 accidental years.

I had met him, but after he died, I over heard the story in the general story, near the pickle barrel. Two older guys in their late 70's, who were his school mates when he transfered school, said.

'Sad about John dying, he was a nice guy for a newcomer...

uh yuh' . The full story was explained by the shop keeper.

Borders come borders go, but narrow parochialism lasts a lifetime.

Nice to see the government doing the right think for these people who's only act was to have the border moved around them, and suddenly become stateless through no actions of their own.

Edited May 5, 2011 by animatic

[Robby nz]

It is good that these people have got their rightful status back.

But the juvenile behavior of the MP.s who went off for a drink with their mates or whatever and didnt attend to finish business is pretty disgusting.

Dont they realise that being an MP is a job and they should do the work associated with that job?

If they worked for a company and skived off the job they would be sacked pretty quick.

Needs to be a system of yellow cards, as per football, where one transgrassion, not attending the house when they should, gets a yellow and their pay is docked for the time they are not present.

A second gets a red card (possibly PTP will all want a red) with a months pay deducted.

Either that or the whips really need to be given a whip to keep their charges in line.

And as for "Your Excellencies" not a lot thats excellent about most of them.

[sylver]

It is good that these people have got their rightful status back.

But the juvenile behavior of the MP.s who went off for a drink with their mates or whatever and didnt attend to finish business is pretty disgusting.

Dont they realise that being an MP is a job and they should do the work associated with that job?

If they worked for a company and skived off the job they would be sacked pretty quick.

Needs to be a system of yellow cards, as per football, where one transgrassion, not attending the house when they should, gets a yellow and their pay is docked for the time they are not present.

A second gets a red card (possibly PTP will all want a red) with a months pay deducted.

Either that or the whips really need to be given a whip to keep their charges in line.

And as for "Your Excellencies" not a lot thats excellent about most of them.

Most MPs in most "civilized" countries don't actually read the bills they vote on, and they don't really show up. Just look at the votes on all but the most popular bills and you find out that there is really only 20-30 MPs doing their job.

[pogal]

I learned a lot from watching the UK series 'YES MINISTER' great insight into politics and although a comedy, I think it really did make a good example of politics worldwide. Almost all of them are in it for themselves. There must be a better way than letting these toss-pots run our lives!?

[khaowong1]

The conduct of Thai MP's keep me shaking my head. Are these really the best that Thailand has to offer?

[Buchholz]

The conduct of Thai MP's keep me shaking my head. Are these really the best that Thailand has to offer?

Unfortunately, it would seem...

Indicted Red Shirt Leader and Pheu Thai Party MP and Deputy House Speaker currently under impeachment proceedings, Apiwan Wiriyachai

Deputy House Speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai - the chairman at that time - closed the meeting.

He said the unfinished business had to be postponed for the next batch of representatives to consider.

[Robby nz]

The conduct of Thai MP's keep me shaking my head. Are these really the best that Thailand has to offer?

Ah but PT have some better candidates for the upcoming election.

There is the one who was caught on film sitting on the toilet, he is the one who had a little problen with a police officer some time back.

Then there is a runaway red shirt leader who will for sure be a fine upstanding MP, if they can find him.

There are also the other red shirt leaders who are said to be on the party list, so they can avoid jail.

And of course Jataporn (motormouth) will be back, minister of information in the upcoming PT Govt, whoever that is led by.

There are also many more in there who will prove to be a real asset to the country once PT win the 270 seats as forecast by their banned leader in self imposed exile.

[asiawatcher]

"... Nice to see the government doing the right think for these people who's only act was to have the border moved around them, and suddenly become stateless through no actions of their own. "

Yes - excellent, and this is pretty much what Cambodia is all about at present.

[ianf]

I learned a lot from watching the UK series 'YES MINISTER' great insight into politics and although a comedy, I think it really did make a good example of politics worldwide. Almost all of them are in it for themselves. There must be a better way than letting these toss-pots run our lives!?

Could you do a better job? What system would you have in place to allow appropriate government for all? Many people make these kind of comments but fail to suggest a better system or will not run for political positions themselves and clean up the mess they claim that the so-called 'toss-pots' are making. Lets get a bit of constructive thought here.

[Chiang2000]

Constructive thought? Bring back Guy Falkes!

I learned a lot from watching the UK series 'YES MINISTER' great insight into politics and although a comedy, I think it really did make a good example of politics worldwide. Almost all of them are in it for themselves. There must be a better way than letting these toss-pots run our lives!?

Could you do a better job? What system would you have in place to allow appropriate government for all? Many people make these kind of comments but fail to suggest a better system or will not run for political positions themselves and clean up the mess they claim that the so-called 'toss-pots' are making. Lets get a bit of constructive thought here.

[pogal]

I learned a lot from watching the UK series 'YES MINISTER' great insight into politics and although a comedy, I think it really did make a good example of politics worldwide. Almost all of them are in it for themselves. There must be a better way than letting these toss-pots run our lives!?

Could you do a better job? What system would you have in place to allow appropriate government for all? Many people make these kind of comments but fail to suggest a better system or will not run for political positions themselves and clean up the mess they claim that the so-called 'toss-pots' are making. Lets get a bit of constructive thought here.

I was actually asking the question, hence the question mark "?"

Sounds like you would make a good politician:)

[monkfish]

This is how civilized MP's should behave.

[monkfish]

Sorry couldn't resist this one is funny