Chaos in Thai Parliament after Democrat evicted

[webfact]

Chaos in Parliament after Democrat evicted
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- PARLIAMENT AGAIN descended into chaos yesterday after its president Somsak Kiatsuranont ordered 20 parliament police to escort Democrat MP Watchara Petthong out of the chamber after Watchara kept shouting and demanding that MPs spend 30 minutes discussing the rubber-price crisis, which has resulted in protesters blockading roads in the South.

During the House-Senate joint session for the second reading of the charter amendment bill, Watchara also demanded documents related to alleged misuse of the hotel accommodation budget from Suwichak Nakwatcharachai, secretary-general of Parliament, although Somsak insisted the documents had already been handed to the MPs.

Before being removed, Watchara shouted: "How much longer will [the government] sell the country in order to shore up the price of other agricultural produce?" He was referring to the rice-pledging scheme.

All this led to a scuffle with police involving a few Democrat lawmakers, including Trang MP Satit Wong-nongtaey and Surat Thani MP Thani Thaugsuban. Satit said he had a red mark on his neck and went along with another Democrat MP to be examined by the parliament physician. Satit later showed the mark to reporters and said he would file a police complaint against the Speaker.

Satit said Watchara fell down during the scuffle and was slightly injured. He vowed that the Democrat Party's legal team would take legal action against the police officers as well, not just Somsak.

After prolonged booing following the eviction of Watchara, Somsak eventually called a recess.

The police officers first pleaded with Watchara to leave the chamber on his own, but the MP refused. Democrat MP for Yala Prasert Phongsuwansiri said: "Isn't it crazy having police overwhelm MPs? Are you not abusing your power? We don't have to work from now on, we can't, because the Speaker may dispatch police to handle MPs."

Pheu Thai's Khon Kaen MP Preechaphol Pongpanit proposed an investigation into the conduct of MPs who created disturbances in Parliament.


-- The Nation 2013-09-05

[soundman]

Doesn't look like it will be long before every opposition MP will have an individual police officer, or two, as a permanent fixture behind where they sit to keep an eye on them.

[jaidam]

Doesn't look like it will be long before every opposition MP will have an individual police officer, or two, as a permanent fixture behind where they sit to keep an eye on them.

If it isn't obvious by now which direction this country is headed.

[johnnie20110]

Doesn't look like it will be long before every opposition MP will have an individual police officer, or two, as a permanent fixture behind where they sit to keep an eye on them.

If it isn't obvious by now which direction this country is headed.

It's heading towards Parliament simply being closed down, like the Philippines Congress was, as the facade of democracy begins to become too troublesome.

[Mampara]

Why don't they just evict everyone, switch of the lights, lock the doors, and throw away the keys?

[NongKhaiKid]

20 cops to deal with one MP, the Speaker doesn't take any chances does he ? Looks like he's drunk with power

[theblether]

20 v 1, yup, This is Thailand

Someone, somewhere will be sitting watching this and polishing the tanks. If parliament fractures to this extent it will be 2006 revisited. You would have thought Taksin would have learned something from that.

Edited September 5, 2013 by theblether

[GentlemanJim]

Why don't they just evict everyone, switch of the lights, lock the doors, and throw away the keys?

It would be more productive if they did.

[bigbamboo]

More fighting in the playground.

[rametindallas]

So much for Parliamentary immunity... if you're a Democrat.

[BrianCR]

Sounds to me very much like two childish groups both who will do anything to get headlines in order to convince the general public that they are fighting to support their cause which, in both cases, is of course, solely aimed at helping their (voting) supporters. Maybe it's about time both the Government and the opposition all went back to kindergarten whilst the general population sought to find politicians (on both sides of the house) who could put the public first and their money grabbing mates last on the list!

[soundman]

So much for Parliamentary immunity... if you're a Democrat.

Yeah, it is a bit ironic.

[Tatsujin]

Police State here we come.

[worgeordie]

There were more police in Parliament that day than Politicians !,

and there was a lot more than 20 police trying to evict 1 MP,

the Speaker will not let the Democrats speak,and he is supposed

to be non partisan, which of course hes not,far from it.

regards Worgeordie

[Chupup]

[Ricardo]

I don't recall that the Dems, when leading the last coalition-government, ever tried to eject opposition-MPs from Parliament by force like this ?

Yay for New-Improved Red-Democracy & Reconciliation !

[noitom]

Doesn't look like it will be long before every opposition MP will have an individual police officer, or two, as a permanent fixture behind where they sit to keep an eye on them. alt=ohmy.png width=20 height=20>

Put them in straight jackets and gagged. They can use an electronic foot switch when they want to be recognized and then the gag will be removed.

[Bakseeda]

I don't recall that the Dems, when leading the last coalition-government, ever tried to eject opposition-MPs from Parliament by force like this ?

Yay for New-Improved Red-Democracy & Reconciliation !

There was no such thing as parliamentary police under the last government .. its newly formed by the DSI... before, all they had were a few security guards.. Yinluck brought them in...

[dudu]

Yes evict him,we have already decided to invoke Article 135/1 of the Criminal Code. The maximum punishment under this clause is death," this is no longer on the table...

[jalansanitwong]

Thailand appears to be coming apart at the seams.

This country doesnt have a government because politicans dont actually do anything apart from make themselves rich off public money.

Who's running the trains ?

Whats any politican doing here ?

Who the hell would invest money here now ?

[Sayonarax]

Thailand appears to be coming apart at the seams.

This country doesnt have a government because politicans dont actually do anything apart from make themselves rich off public money.

Who's running the trains ?

Whats any politican doing here ?

Who the hell would invest money here now ?

You mean the whole world, unless you just woke up from a 12 year coma ?

[geriatrickid]

Doesn't look like it will be long before every opposition MP will have an individual police officer, or two, as a permanent fixture behind where they sit to keep an eye on them.

If it isn't obvious by now which direction this country is headed.

The route where democracy is maintained and that political bullies cannot threaten or intimidate the House?

Do you have a problem with the rules of Thai parliamentary procedure being respected?

[Katipo]

The rubber problem in the South is genuine, and the government thus far has all but ignored it. This MP was right to demand action. The irony is, by being tossed out of parliament, the speaker has thrown a spotlight on the issue they were all trying to avoid.

[geriatrickid]

I don't recall that the Dems, when leading the last coalition-government, ever tried to eject opposition-MPs from Parliament by force like this ?

Yay for New-Improved Red-Democracy & Reconciliation !

There was no such thing as parliamentary police under the last government .. its newly formed by the DSI... before, all they had were a few security guards.. Yinluck brought them in...

Nice attempt to smear the government and another falsehood.

When Abhisit was PM, he relied on Police Division I to provide much of the security for the House. He also relied heavily on the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situations (CRES). Abhisit's Democrats relied on a far greater police presence than the current government. More importantly, when the current government was in opposition, its MPs did not try to physically assault the House Speaker or other MPs with the frequency that the Democrat MPs have.

[geriatrickid]

The rubber problem in the South is genuine, and the government thus far has all but ignored it. This MP was right to demand action. The irony is, by being tossed out of parliament, the speaker has thrown a spotlight on the issue they were all trying to avoid.

What is genuine is that the Democrats have incited and supported the southern rubber protestors.

I find it odd that the very same people who have criticized the government's rice pledging scheme, want the government to offer subsidies to rubber farmers on a basis that exceeds the subsidy rate per rice farmer. The Southern rubber growers are not a vital component of the Thai export economy as are Thai rice growers. If one disapproves of the rice pledging scheme, how can one then support the demands for a handout to the rubber growers?

[AleG]

The rubber problem in the South is genuine, and the government thus far has all but ignored it. This MP was right to demand action. The irony is, by being tossed out of parliament, the speaker has thrown a spotlight on the issue they were all trying to avoid.

What is genuine is that the Democrats have incited and supported the southern rubber protestors.

I find it odd that the very same people who have criticized the government's rice pledging scheme, want the government to offer subsidies to rubber farmers on a basis that exceeds the subsidy rate per rice farmer. The Southern rubber growers are not a vital component of the Thai export economy as are Thai rice growers. If one disapproves of the rice pledging scheme, how can one then support the demands for a handout to the rubber growers?

You are very wrong, rubber exports are almost twice the value of rice.

The export value of natural rubber between 2010 and 2013 averaged $9.3 billion a year, compared with Thai rice at an average export value of $5.3 billion a year, statistics show.

I suppose now you'll change your stance, no?

[LuckyLew]

The police have now be present in the parliament chambers more times than PM Yingluck this semester, lol

[moe666]

The rubber problem in the South is genuine, and the government thus far has all but ignored it. This MP was right to demand action. The irony is, by being tossed out of parliament, the speaker has thrown a spotlight on the issue they were all trying to avoid.

What is genuine is that the Democrats have incited and supported the southern rubber protestors.

I find it odd that the very same people who have criticized the government's rice pledging scheme, want the government to offer subsidies to rubber farmers on a basis that exceeds the subsidy rate per rice farmer. The Southern rubber growers are not a vital component of the Thai export economy as are Thai rice growers. If one disapproves of the rice pledging scheme, how can one then support the demands for a handout to the rubber growers?

If one supports the rice scheme how can they not support the rubber scheme mainly because they are not Big Ts friends and supporters. The people who need the rice support are left out in the cold as the lions share of support goes to rich farmers, millers and a few selected traders.

[edwinchester]

Sounds to me very much like two childish groups both who will do anything to get headlines in order to convince the general public that they are fighting to support their cause which, in both cases, is of course, solely aimed at helping their (voting) supporters. Maybe it's about time both the Government and the opposition all went back to kindergarten whilst the general population sought to find politicians (on both sides of the house) who could put the public first and their money grabbing mates last on the list!

Problem is a large percentage of the population will vote for the candidate who pays the most so unlikely to get anyone bent on root and branch reform.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[geriatrickid]

The rubber problem in the South is genuine, and the government thus far has all but ignored it. This MP was right to demand action. The irony is, by being tossed out of parliament, the speaker has thrown a spotlight on the issue they were all trying to avoid.

What is genuine is that the Democrats have incited and supported the southern rubber protestors.

I find it odd that the very same people who have criticized the government's rice pledging scheme, want the government to offer subsidies to rubber farmers on a basis that exceeds the subsidy rate per rice farmer. The Southern rubber growers are not a vital component of the Thai export economy as are Thai rice growers. If one disapproves of the rice pledging scheme, how can one then support the demands for a handout to the rubber growers?

You are very wrong, rubber exports are almost twice the value of rice.

The export value of natural rubber between 2010 and 2013 averaged $9.3 billion a year, compared with Thai rice at an average export value of $5.3 billion a year, statistics show.

I suppose now you'll change your stance, no?

I was anticipating your response and I confess, I was setting up the person who was going to respond.

You also misunderstood the comment in respect to subsidy per rice farmer vs. rubber tree grower. There are more people involved in the rice industry than the latex industry. The rubber sector is distinguished by the fact that the rubber processing industry adds significant value to the product. On a per person impact, the rice subsidies have a greater impact. I am not saying the rubber industry is unimportant.

Yes, I am aware of the importance of Surat Thani as the largest of all of the rubber producing regions. However, the second largest region and almost as large as Surat Thani is Songkhla. It is also where much of the rubber processing factories are located. How come it is relatively quiet in Songkhla?

Do you think it is because the the locals are not easily manipulated by the Democrats? Or do you think the Thai government support of 15 billion baht to help rubber businesses upgrade their machinery is going help the Songkhla region and thus has earned the support of the Songkhla producers and processors? The additional 5 billion baht to help rice farmers invest in rubber processing is certainly of interest to the other rubber producers.

The protestors are mostly from Surat Thani and whether they are happy or not, is not a major concern. If a few of them go out of business, it will be good for the Thai industry in general as demand for Thai rubber from one of its largest markets, China, has shrunk over the past year. A glut of rubber on the market will keep export prices low. Rather than subsidize, the goal should be to retire some of the plantations, particularly those that have encroached on the protected land areas.

Edited September 5, 2013 by geriatrickid