Suthep Faces Impeachment Vote In The Senate Next Week

[webfact]

ANALYSIS

Suthep faces impeachment vote in the Senate next week

Khanittha Thepphajorn

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- An impeachment process has begun to punish the opposition Democrats' key man Suthep Thaugsuban for misconduct while he was deputy prime minister in the previous government.

The process - set to come to a head in the Senate next Tuesday -will be a test case as Suthep is the first person to face impeachment under the 2007 Constitution.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission decided recently that Suthep committed misconduct because he, when deputy premier, assigned 19 Democrat MPs and party members to a job at the Culture Ministry. His order to intervene in administration of the Culture Ministry contravened Articles 266 (1) and 268 of the constitution.

The anti-graft body suggested the Senate impeach him from his current position as a Member of Parliament. The ball is now in the Senate's court.

Suthep argued that he did nothing wrong, and said Justice Minister Pracha Promnok did the same when he appointed seven Pheu Thai Party MPs to work at the Flood Relief Operation Centre, which Pracha chaired last year. The Democrat Party then submitted an impeachment complaint against Pracha but the Constitution Court rejected it. Suthep is hoping that the Senate will do the same as the court and dismiss his case.

But many legal experts say his case is different and the Senate does not need to follow the senior court's ruling to consider his case.

Prof Nantawat Boromanand of Chulalongkorn University said Pracha and Suthep's cases were different. "Pracha's case is the case of Pracha and Suthep's case is Suthep's story," he said. "Khun Suthep has the right to submit his evidence and documents to the Senate but I don't think the Constitution Court's judgement on Khun Pracha's case is useful for Khun Suthep."

Trakul Meechai, an academic at Chulalongkorn's Political Science Faculty, said Suthep exercised his authority to intervene in a state agency out of his jurisdiction. In a normal situation, such action was unconstitutional, he said. But Pracha exercised his capacity as chairman of the flood relief centre to mobilise resources and people to help handle disaster, he said.

"Pracha's act was made when the country needed to mobilise personnel to help flood relief but Khun Suthep took the action in a normal situation and he had no authority to do so," Trakul said.

Paisit Panichkul, a legal expert from Chiang Mai University, said it was clear that Suthep made a mistake in his administration.

Political circumstances suggest Suthep is not in a good situation. The Senate is now dominated by politicians from the rival party, and the newly elected Senate Speaker, Nikom Wiratpanich, is not a good friend of the Democrat. He has close connections to the Pheu Thai government.

As a veteran politician, Suthep might try to use personal influence to lobby senators on their decision but that might not be good for the Senate's reputation, political scientist Trakul said.

The public wants to see the Senate perform its function in accordance with the law and evidence, and judge the case without political bias, he said.

If Suthep managed to get more support in the Senate and three fifths of the Upper House decide not to impeach him, the public may understand it sided with the opposition MP.

But if Suthep wins support from senators and avoids impeachment, the constitution may not be sacred anymore, Chiang Mai University' academic Paisit said. This is the first case that a politician faces impeachment in accordance with the 2007 constitution, he said. "Whatsoever, the Senate decides, it will be a precedent," he said.

Suthep testified to a Senate panel yesterday and is due to make a closing statement to the Upper House on Monday, along with an NACC official, prior to the vote on Tuesday.

-- The Nation 2012-09-12

[Curt1591]

They are going after him for misconduct during the flood !?!

[asiawatcher]

He gave 19 Dems a job in the Culture Ministry? From his own party? <deleted> - Impeachment? Politicians are such petty fools over such ridiculous things - and then getting the anti corruption commission involved, time wasting and costly ... all these 'Govt bodies' seem to be trying to justify their existence. I would have thought the NACC had better things to handle such as corruption and skimming billions of Baht from tax payers funds rather than chase this nonsense. But then they will have the excuse they were busy on other matters rather than to find fault with Police, Customs et al. T.i.T.

[ramrod711]

If he is found guilty, he should be impeached. It might be a good start towards curbing some of the corruption in the country. Of course, whenever Jatuporn is found guilty, he should go to.

[chooka]

I get the feeling that "both" sides of the government is dominated by the rich families whose members have a shady past. Pimps, Standover men and even those charged with murder. All this infighting seems to have nothing to do with the countries interest but internal power struggles between the families. How on earth can Thailand expect to be taken seriously on the world stage with these people who answer to no one not even the courts are running the country.

I am probably totally wrong but it is the impression I get.

[nurofiend]

hope something comes of this, suthep is one of the slyest of snakes in the grass.

[saltandpepper]

hope something comes of this, suthep is one of the slyest of snakes in the grass.

Among quite a bunch of others...

[hellodolly]

hope something comes of this, suthep is one of the slyest of snakes in the grass.

Among quite a bunch of others...

Yes but he stands out like a shooting star. Now if he didn't want to be seen he could put on a red shirt and fit rite in with the rest of the snakes.

[nurofiend]

hope something comes of this, suthep is one of the slyest of snakes in the grass.

Among quite a bunch of others...

Yes but he stands out like a shooting star. Now if he didn't want to be seen he could put on a red shirt and fit rite in with the rest of the snakes.

"but the red shirts....."