House Speaker Somsak Target Of Impeachment Drive

[webfact]

Somsak target of impeachment drive

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Democrat Party yesterday lodged an impeachment motion against House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont for alleged bias in connection with the deliberation of the reconciliation bill on Wednesday.

Rak Prathet Thai Party leader Chuwit Kamolvisit co-signed the motion endorsed by 123 opposition MPs.

"As head of the legislative branch, Somsak has shown a lack of impartiality, which is in violation of Article 125 of the Constitution," Democrat MP Thaworn Senneam said.

In his capacity as the spearhead of the impeachment drive, Thaworn submitted the motion to Senate Speaker Teeradej Meepien.

Acknowledging the motion, Teeradej said he would verify the motion sponsors before activating proceedings by instructing the National Anti-Corruption Commission to see whether there is cause to suspect misconduct by Somsak.

The Democrats alleged that Somsak failed to be impartial when he rushed to take two actions - designating the bill as a priority, and classifying the bill as a non-fiscal issue - thereby denying the opposition lawmakers a chance to air their views.

Instead of consulting the MPs, Somsak ruled that the amnesty called for in the bill, if granted, would have no fiscal impact on the government, even though a draft provision is designed to return Bt46 billion in seized assets to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The bill, if passed, would result in the government returning the assets, including Bt900 million belonging to Thaksin's sister, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The Democrats said Somsak turned a blind eye to the fiscal obligations imposed on the government by the bill in order to rush its passage. Should the House classify the bill as a fiscal legislation, Somsak is obliged to forward the draft for vetting by the government before commencing the deliberation,

In addition to the effort to impeach Somsak, the main opposition party plans to petition the Constitution Court to launch a review of the bill on grounds that certain draft provisions might infringe on the judiciary's power because amnesty would be tantamount to repealing a number of verdicts.

Pheu Thai MP Paijit Sreewarakan said the House committee on legislative affairs would next week invite Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva to discuss what the MP said was unruly conduct involving the Democrats.

At Wednesday's session, Democrat MPs surrounded Somsak in a threatening manner to force him to exit the Speaker's dais. Although the Democrats said their action was a gesture of opposition, many saw it as disrespectful and not appropriate in the House.

The House committee will try to prevent a repeat of such an incident, Paijit said.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Thursday refused to apologise to House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranon and vowed instead to seek his impeachment.

Abhisit alleges that Somsak sided with the government and abused his authority as the chairman of the meeting at Wednesday's House session by gagging Democrat MPs who were trying to point out serious flaws in the reconciliation bills.

-- The Nation 2012-06-01

[Buchholz]

So there's 900,000,000 reasons for Yingluck to endorse the reconciliation bill.

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[GentlemanJim]

So there's 900,000,000 reasons for Yingluck to endorse the reconciliation bill.

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You couldn't make this stuff up.

[Moruya]

Unbelievable.

Corruption is being taken to a new low

[Buchholz]

So there's 900,000,000 reasons for Yingluck to endorse the reconciliation bill.

Sent from my iPad

You couldn't make this stuff up.

It goes a long way in explaining the urgency.

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[Buchholz]

Somsak is a nut case doing the bidding of a convicted fugitive. He needs to back to Khon Kaen and read the rules of the House.

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[Mario2008]

1 post and reply deleted for giving wrong name of politician.

memebrs are asked to use the proper names.

[moe666]

PTP should be honest just propose a bill that will give amnesty to Big T get over it.

[Skywalker69]

I feel sick.

[KKvampire]

Somsak is a stooge a placeman who does as hes told by PTP.fits in well with the rest of the thugs running the country.reconcillation:lol:

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[Bluespunk]

This is going to end in tears. Somsak is acting in a manner that is embarrassing to behold and the Democrats now seem to be so frustrated they are completely losing the plot. There is no middle ground and nobody can benefit from such confrontational politics. Madness.

[MILT]

If it was your money wouldn't you try and get it back? I would no matter that I made it illegally. The house speaker clearly is to connected to the Shinawatra's to be able to do his job effectively and impartial. Am I missing something? Have the Dems or other legit groups written any form of a reconciliation bill so as to find a middle ground? Common sense tells me that there should be at the very least a drafted counter proposal.

[GentlemanJim]

If it was your money wouldn't you try and get it back? I would no matter that I made it illegally. The house speaker clearly is to connected to the Shinawatra's to be able to do his job effectively and impartial. Am I missing something? Have the Dems or other legit groups written any form of a reconciliation bill so as to find a middle ground? Common sense tells me that there should be at the very least a drafted counter proposal.

The ONLY way for reconciliation is that the law makers follow the law....to the letter, more so than anyone else in this country. There is no middle ground, the laws already exist and reconciliation will never be achieved by making a mockery of the Judiciary and the Institution that gives them their authority and guidance. The current quest for reconciliation has absolutely nothing to do with the people of Thailand, and last time I checked MP's were elected to govern the country on behalf of the people FOR the people. I would truly love to know what was going through Aung San Suu Kyi's head yesterday when she visited this country, knowing what is currently going on. I really wonder what she truly thinks of Yingluck and her gang.

Edited June 2, 2012 by GentlemanJim

[thaicbr]

If it was your money wouldn't you try and get it back? I would no matter that I made it illegally. The house speaker clearly is to connected to the Shinawatra's to be able to do his job effectively and impartial. Am I missing something? Have the Dems or other legit groups written any form of a reconciliation bill so as to find a middle ground? Common sense tells me that there should be at the very least a drafted counter proposal.

That is a good point about a counter bill. But I think the problem is the government can decide to amalgamate the bills creating one.

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[waza]

Lets hope justice is seen to be applied here.

[ratcatcher]

If it was your money wouldn't you try and get it back? I would no matter that I made it illegally. The house speaker clearly is to connected to the Shinawatra's to be able to do his job effectively and impartial. Am I missing something? Have the Dems or other legit groups written any form of a reconciliation bill so as to find a middle ground? Common sense tells me that there should be at the very least a drafted counter proposal.

The ONLY way for reconciliation is that the law makers follow the law....to the letter, more so than anyone else in this country. There is no middle ground, the laws already exist and reconciliation will never be achieved by making a mockery of the Judiciary and the Institution that gives them their authority and guidance. The current quest for reconciliation has absolutely nothing to do with the people of Thailand, and last time I checked MP's were elected to govern the country on behalf of the people FOR the people. I would truly love to know what was going through Aung San Suu Kyi's head yesterday when she visited this country, knowing what is currently going on. I really wonder what she truly thinks of Yingluck and her gang.

One can be fairly sure that Daw Suu Kyui has gone back to Burma (I use the politically incorrect name because she does) with a long list of things (Not To Do) when she sits down with members of her party and other government officials.

Whether the absence of Sein Thein is of major significance, we have yet to learn, but apparently his nose was out of joint due to several factors, one of which was apparently ASSK being interviewed by Pol.Capt.Chalerm IN Government House.

Anyway, ASSK being a true lady and a diplomat would always have put on a polite and understanding manner even while she listened to YLS mangle the English language.

She also has impeccable dress sense in the traditional style. No Gucci, Prada or Versace for her.

Edited June 4, 2012 by ratcatcher