House Debate On Thai Govt's Bt2-Trillion Borrowing Bill Kicks Off

[webfact]

Dems to 'keep pressure on'
Kornchanok Raksaseri,
Prapasri Osathanon
The Nation


Democrat MP Atavit Suwannapakdee

BANGKOK: -- House debate on govt's Bt2-trillion borrowing bill kicks off today, Opposition to make case that on-budget spending is the best option

The Democrats do not expect that the House debate will spell defeat for the Bt2-trillion borrowing bill, given the ruling coalition's majority, but they are hopeful that their arguments will raise social awareness and win public support for investment checks-and-balances.

The two-day debate on the borrowing bill, initiated under the government's ambitious plan to increase Thailand's logistics competitiveness and regional connectivity, kicks off today.

Democrat MP Atavit Suwannapakdee said the opposition did not expect it would be able to stop government MPs from passing the bill. But on the other hand, it was placing hope on social pressure being generated.

"If social pressure is put on the government, we might be able to stop the borrowing. The opposition is trying to make the public understand that the government's plans are not clear and would allow changes like issuing blank cheques. We won't let that happen. If the media and academics understand and keep an eye on [the projects], it won't happen," Atavit said.

The opposition plans to aim attacks mainly at the government's debt burden, the suitability and effectiveness of the projects, and their transparency.



According to Atavit, the Democrats insist the government could best finance the infrastructure projects through normal budget channels, believing this would ensure better project screening. He said there was no clause to say that the government was bound to proceed with projects annexed to the bills.

Democrat MP Rachada Dhnadirek said the lists included many projects that the government was not ready to implement at the moment. "Many projects still lack a feasibility study and environmental impact assessments," she said.

She said that to finance the projects, the government could instead run additional budget deficits of Bt300 billion per year. She suspected the government had a hidden agenda, and pinned her hopes on the bill being unconstitutional.

The Democrats said the bill might be in violation of Articles 169 and 170 of the Constitution, which govern public spending.

Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong earlier said the government chose to borrow rather than run budget deficits to finance the projects, and not send a wrong message that the government wanted to stimulate the economy. "Budget deficits or fiscal policies are exercised when a government wants to boost the economy. Our objective is however to invest in new infrastructure projects, after years of their absence."

The Bt2 trillion will fund a number of rail, road, water-transport and air-transport projects, under a vision to place Thailand at the centre of Asean.

This would be highlighted through its presence in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec), the Greater mekong Subregion (GMS), the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), and the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle.

After the seven-year investment, Thailand would be linked with the regional groups through the Southern Economic Corridor (Bangkok-Phnom Penh-Ho Chi Minh City), the East-West Economic Corridor (Malamang-Phitsanulok-Khon Kaen-Savannakhet-Danang), and the North-South Economic Corridor (which links Thailand with Kunming, China, via Laos and Myanmar). Through Route R9, Thailand would be linked with Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar.

Academics have voiced their concern over the public debt, fearing it could breach the non-binding threshold of 60 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). The government announced the loans would be cleared within 50 years and insisted that the debt ratio would not exceed 50 per cent.

The Democrats have clearly stated they disagree with four high-speed train projects.

"We agree with the investment, but not in the way the government proposed it. The routes [as proposed by the government] would not be linked with neighbouring countries, and that would not be cost-effective," Atavit said.

Both sides are prepared to present their cases today.

The Pheu Thai Party has set up another war room comprising party strategists and legal advisers to cope with today's debate, in addition to the first one, which consists of party heavyweights who would launch verbal countermeasures against any off-topic statements by the opposition.

The second team, which like the first team will be stationed in Room 3310 at Parliament House, will also be tasked with protecting Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra or de-facto leader Thaksin in case they are attacked verbally by the Democrats or opposition ally Bhum Jai Thai.

Ahead of the debate, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a Skype call to the Pheu Thai Party's annual meeting. In his 10-minute message on Tuesday, he instructed government MPs to study the loan bill thoroughly and stand ready to rebut the opposition's attack. He threatened to mete out the severest punishment if the House deliberation of the bill collapsed due to a lack of quorum. He also said he would not endorse the re-election bids for MPs who were a no-show at next week's debate on charter change.

Sixty Democrat MPs have been designated as speakers. Bhum Jai Thai has selected 10 in support of the Democrats, while Pheu Thai has arranged 40 MPs, including members of the two war rooms, to support or protect Yingluck and the three key speakers in defence of the bill, Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong, Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt and PM's Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn.

The key guardian of Yingluck, whom a Pheu Thai source said would be present only when needed during the debate, is Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung. His assistants are senior MPs known for their verbal acuity, who will jump to the defence of Yingluck and Thaksin when implicated by issues not on the agenda.

Both sides are given 12-and-a-half hours in the two-day debate, which begins today at 9.30am and is televised live on government-run Channel 11. Yingluck would make an opening speech while the three ministers would go into the details of more than 100 projects, which are explained in an annex containing 268 pages attached to the 19-article bill.


-- The Nation 2013-03-28

[waza]

"former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a Skype call to the Pheu Thai Party's annual meeting. In his 10-minute message on Tuesday, he instructed government MPs to study the loan bill thoroughly and stand ready to rebut the opposition's attack. He threatened to mete out the severest punishment if the House deliberation of the bill collapsed due to a lack of quorum. He also said he would not endorse the re-election bids for MPs who were a no-show at next week's debate on charter change."

Thaksin's creditors are closing in, he needs this money fast.

Edited March 28, 2013 by waza

[Locationthailand]

So Thaksin's continuing claim to have left politics to the Thai's include directives, threats, coercion? This is such a laughable situation. A country being run by a convicted bail jumping criminal in exile.

[webfact]

Thai PM stresses transparency in spending loans
By English News



BANGKOK, March 28 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra gave reassurances in Parliament today that the spending of Bt2 trillion in loans for Thailand’s infrastructure development will be transparent with strict controls.

In her prelude to today’s Lower House debate of the highly-criticised borrowing, she clarified that the government has resorted to issuing the bill rather than seeking funds from the national budget to enable projects to carry on without disruption in light of the country’s political dynamism.

The long-term loans will not affect Thailand’s financial landscape though public debts against GDP will be higher since the massive investment will automatically increase GDP, she said.

She said internal political disputes since 2006 have hindered the state’s investment for infrastructure development, pushing up transport cost by 15 per cent and pulling down the country’s competitive edge.

“Please don’t argue who initiates the projects. Let us, the Thai people, join forces to lay the groundwork for the future of the new generation,” she said.

Deputy Prime Minister/Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said the major objective of the bill was to acquire Bt2 trillion loans for urban expansion and to prepare Thailand for economic and trade investment domestically and internationally especially in the Southeast Asian region.

House speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont said the ruling and opposition blocs will have 14 hours and 16 hours respectively to debate the bill, which should take a full day. The opposition has prepared about 60 MPs to take the floor. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-03-28

[kimamey]

So Thaksin's continuing claim to have left politics to the Thai's include directives, threats, coercion? This is such a laughable situation. A country being run by a convicted bail jumping criminal in exile.

Is there any proof of Thaksin's alleged communications or is this based on rumour?

[ZhouZhou]

So Thaksin's continuing claim to have left politics to the Thai's include directives, threats, coercion? This is such a laughable situation. A country being run by a convicted bail jumping criminal in exile.

Is there any proof of Thaksin's alleged communications or is this based on rumour?

i think it is based on sources asked not to be named and reading between the lines skillz of fellow forum members.

[dcutman]

So Thaksin's continuing claim to have left politics to the Thai's include directives, threats, coercion? This is such a laughable situation. A country being run by a convicted bail jumping criminal in exile.

Is there any proof of Thaksin's alleged communications or is this based on rumour?

I guess the Nation and Bangkok Post (and every other Thai news source) just make this stuff up and print it for jolly's

Ahead of the debate, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a

Skype call to the Pheu Thai Party's annual meeting. In his 10-minute

message on Tuesday, he instructed government MPs to study the loan bill

thoroughly and stand ready to rebut the opposition's attack. He

threatened to mete out the severest punishment if the House deliberation

of the bill collapsed due to a lack of quorum. He also said he would

not endorse the re-election bids for MPs who were a no-show at next

week's debate on charter change.

Edited March 28, 2013 by dcutman

[Pimay1]

So Thaksin's continuing claim to have left politics to the Thai's include directives, threats, coercion? This is such a laughable situation. A country being run by a convicted bail jumping criminal in exile.

Is there any proof of Thaksin's alleged communications or is this based on rumour?

I guess the Nation and Bangkok Post (and every other Thai news source) just make this stuff up and print it for jolly's

Ahead of the debate, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a

Skype call to the Pheu Thai Party's annual meeting. In his 10-minute

message on Tuesday, he instructed government MPs to study the loan bill

thoroughly and stand ready to rebut the opposition's attack. He

threatened to mete out the severest punishment if the House deliberation

of the bill collapsed due to a lack of quorum. He also said he would

not endorse the re-election bids for MPs who were a no-show at next

week's debate on charter change.

If my memory serves me correctly there was a picture inset of him on Skype giving orders to his minions.

Edited March 28, 2013 by Pimay1

[muttley]

So Thaksin's continuing claim to have left politics to the Thai's include directives, threats, coercion? This is such a laughable situation. A country being run by a convicted bail jumping criminal in exile.

Is there any proof of Thaksin's alleged communications or is this based on rumour?

I guess the Nation and Bangkok Post (and every other Thai news source) just make this stuff up and print it for jolly's

Ahead of the debate, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a

Skype call to the Pheu Thai Party's annual meeting. In his 10-minute

message on Tuesday, he instructed government MPs to study the loan bill

thoroughly and stand ready to rebut the opposition's attack. He

threatened to mete out the severest punishment if the House deliberation

of the bill collapsed due to a lack of quorum. He also said he would

not endorse the re-election bids for MPs who were a no-show at next

week's debate on charter change.

Nothing in the Post - and every other Thai news source? Care to provide some examples, it shouldn't be hard with every thai new source reporting on it.

[ratcatcher]

I like the use of a piggy bank as the savings destination.

Edited March 28, 2013 by ratcatcher

[muttley]

So Thaksin's continuing claim to have left politics to the Thai's include directives, threats, coercion? This is such a laughable situation. A country being run by a convicted bail jumping criminal in exile.

Is there any proof of Thaksin's alleged communications or is this based on rumour?

I guess the Nation and Bangkok Post (and every other Thai news source) just make this stuff up and print it for jolly's

Ahead of the debate, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a

Skype call to the Pheu Thai Party's annual meeting. In his 10-minute

message on Tuesday, he instructed government MPs to study the loan bill

thoroughly and stand ready to rebut the opposition's attack. He

threatened to mete out the severest punishment if the House deliberation

of the bill collapsed due to a lack of quorum. He also said he would

not endorse the re-election bids for MPs who were a no-show at next

week's debate on charter change.

If my memory serves me correctly there was a picture inset of him on Skype giving orders to his minions.

Well that's it then, 100% solid gold proof. Pimay thinks he remembers a picture of Thaksin with a mobile.

[Ricardo]

<snip for brevity>

The long-term loans will not affect Thailand’s financial landscape though public debts against GDP will be higher since the massive investment will automatically increase GDP, she said.

<snip for brevity>

-- TNA 2013-03-28

Surely the debt/GDP-ratio will rise, not because GDP will be increased (which it will, as construction is gradually carried out, over several years), but because public-debt will be increased by the amount of the 2.2 Trillion-Baht loan ?

And of course a massive loan like this affects the country's 'financial landscape'. How could it not do so ?

Hope that PM Yingluck understands this, better than she expresses it , here in this report of her comments.

[muttley]

"Ahead of the debate, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a Skype call to the Pheu Thai Party's annual meeting"

Has anyone ever wondered why Multi Billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra would use Skype to call the PTP or the Cabinet?

I mean it's not as if he couldn't afford the roaming charges is it?

[dcutman]

So Thaksin's continuing claim to have left politics to the Thai's include directives, threats, coercion? This is such a laughable situation. A country being run by a convicted bail jumping criminal in exile.

Is there any proof of Thaksin's alleged communications or is this based on rumour?

I guess the Nation and Bangkok Post (and every other Thai news source) just make this stuff up and print it for jolly's

Ahead of the debate, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a

Skype call to the Pheu Thai Party's annual meeting. In his 10-minute

message on Tuesday, he instructed government MPs to study the loan bill

thoroughly and stand ready to rebut the opposition's attack. He

threatened to mete out the severest punishment if the House deliberation

of the bill collapsed due to a lack of quorum. He also said he would

not endorse the re-election bids for MPs who were a no-show at next

week's debate on charter change.

Nothing in the Post - and every other Thai news source? Care to provide some examples, it shouldn't be hard with every thai new source reporting on it.

Is there such a thing as being Googling disabled?

Here is some help for ya Mutt.

https://www.google.co.th/search?q=thaksin+skypes+in&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=fflb

Edited March 28, 2013 by dcutman

[ZhouZhou]

Is there any proof of Thaksin's alleged communications or is this based on rumour?

I guess the Nation and Bangkok Post (and every other Thai news source) just make this stuff up and print it for jolly's

Ahead of the debate, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a

Skype call to the Pheu Thai Party's annual meeting. In his 10-minute

message on Tuesday, he instructed government MPs to study the loan bill

thoroughly and stand ready to rebut the opposition's attack. He

threatened to mete out the severest punishment if the House deliberation

of the bill collapsed due to a lack of quorum. He also said he would

not endorse the re-election bids for MPs who were a no-show at next

week's debate on charter change.

If my memory serves me correctly there was a picture inset of him on Skype giving orders to his minions.

Well that's it then, 100% solid gold proof. Pimay thinks he remembers a picture of Thaksin with a mobile.

not sure if that can be a 100% proof. i would be careful here. keep in mind a lot of photos of Thaksin seems to be photoshopped by Thaksin or photoshopped photos of one of his clones/doppelgangers.

[dcutman]

So Thaksin's continuing claim to have left politics to the Thai's include directives, threats, coercion? This is such a laughable situation. A country being run by a convicted bail jumping criminal in exile.

Is there any proof of Thaksin's alleged communications or is this based on rumour?

I guess the Nation and Bangkok Post (and every other Thai news source) just make this stuff up and print it for jolly's

Ahead of the debate, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a

Skype call to the Pheu Thai Party's annual meeting. In his 10-minute

message on Tuesday, he instructed government MPs to study the loan bill

thoroughly and stand ready to rebut the opposition's attack. He

threatened to mete out the severest punishment if the House deliberation

of the bill collapsed due to a lack of quorum. He also said he would

not endorse the re-election bids for MPs who were a no-show at next

week's debate on charter change.

If my memory serves me correctly there was a picture inset of him on Skype giving orders to his minions.

There is only on image come to mind, when certain members consider Yingluck the "Real PM" and Thaksin isn't running the country.

[ZhouZhou]

"Ahead of the debate, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a Skype call to the Pheu Thai Party's annual meeting"

Has anyone ever wondered why Multi Billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra would use Skype to call the PTP or the Cabinet?

I mean it's not as if he couldn't afford the roaming charges is it?

"skyping" doesn't mean to use actually the program skype. is used here as generic name for any kind of computer based real time communication.

actually he is using some advanced 3D holographic projection technology to appear on different places around the globe at the same time. at one time it was to have pictures taking of him with a phone in the hand another time to take photos of shaking hands with the nissan main dealer of SA.

[ZhouZhou]

There is only on image come to mind, when certain members consider Yingluck the "Real PM" and Thaksin isn't running the country.

photoshop fail.

easily to spot when you count the fingers and toes. see something missing?

furthermore it doesn't look like Thaksin or her clone at all.

[Pimay1]

There is only on image come to mind, when certain members consider Yingluck the "Real PM" and Thaksin isn't running the country.

And this one.

[muttley]

Is there any proof of Thaksin's alleged communications or is this based on rumour?

I guess the Nation and Bangkok Post (and every other Thai news source) just make this stuff up and print it for jolly's

Ahead of the debate, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a

Skype call to the Pheu Thai Party's annual meeting. In his 10-minute

message on Tuesday, he instructed government MPs to study the loan bill

thoroughly and stand ready to rebut the opposition's attack. He

threatened to mete out the severest punishment if the House deliberation

of the bill collapsed due to a lack of quorum. He also said he would

not endorse the re-election bids for MPs who were a no-show at next

week's debate on charter change.

Nothing in the Post - and every other Thai news source? Care to provide some examples, it shouldn't be hard with every thai new source reporting on it.

Is there such a thing as being Googling disabled?

Here is some help for ya Mutt.

https://www.google.co.th/search?q=thaksin+skypes+in&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=fflb

Could be, it doesn't affect me. That link of yours that eventually ends up in a google search are all variations on the original New York Times article or repeats of the Nation article (which came from the NYT article and has been repeated weekly in various guises) which proves absolutely zilch.

Asia News Network - links to the Nation article

2Bangkok.com - links to the NYT article

Twitter - links to Rajprasong News - links to facebook - links to the Nation

Asian Correspondent - links to NYT article

Bangkok Post - links to "PTP Party Source"

Need I go on?

[lungmi]

remark from the countryside.

My high tec mechanic (Honda Team of Australia for Paris-Dakar in South-America) come back to Thailand.

Short time. . I wanted that he repairs my enduro. Impossible. He works now in Uganda.

Up to you to interprete this fact.

[aussiebebe]

Having seen, in Bangkok, entire Thai families on a single motorbike and several families in a single pickup truck - I hardly see the demand for railway lines by citizens that pride themselves on day-long, cramped road trips to Chiang Mai.
For all this talk of corruption, the Thai government are amateurs. Had they any sense, they could have proposed to annex the southern Muslim provinces with a Chinese-built canal in exchange for the Chinese building the new railways (at 200% cost).

[NeverSure]

Yes, as the headline suggests, I just love the "transparency" in Thailand's government spending.

I thought "transparency" meant that I can see right though their scam.

[kimamey]

"Ahead of the debate, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a Skype call to the Pheu Thai Party's annual meeting"

Has anyone ever wondered why Multi Billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra would use Skype to call the PTP or the Cabinet?

I mean it's not as if he couldn't afford the roaming charges is it?

"skyping" doesn't mean to use actually the program skype. is used here as generic name for any kind of computer based real time communication.

actually he is using some advanced 3D holographic projection technology to appear on different places around the globe at the same time. at one time it was to have pictures taking of him with a phone in the hand another time to take photos of shaking hands with the nissan main dealer of SA.

I think I'm right in saying that VOIP calls with Skype ect. use higher bandwidth than normal mobile calls.

It seems there's no actual proof for these stories about Thaksin using Skype although it's mentioned so many times I'd be surprised if there wasn't some truth in it. We might find out more now some senators are going to sue him.