Legal challenges to Thai govt not over

[webfact]

SPECIAL REPORT
Legal challenges to govt not over
Hataikarn Treesuwan
The Nation



Administration expects opposition to continue to seek court rulings, but remains confident

BANGKOK: -- Although the Constitutional Court has voted to endorse the constitutionality of the government's 2014 Budget Bill, the Yingluck Shinawatra administration still faces numerous allegations filed with the courts and independent agencies by the Democrat Party and opposition-friendly activists.

Pending are three important lawsuits in the Administrative Court, two petitions filed with the Constitutional Court, and six more accusations being investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

Some leaders in the ruling Pheu Thai Party are particularly worried that the government may collapse due to a court order. "We are concerned about a case being investigated by the NACC that involves the government's rice-pledging scheme. And we also have to worry about every financial bill being examined by courts, which may lead to project delays. We don't know what will happen next," a Pheu Thai source said.

PM's Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn said the government's Bt2-trillion loan bill could still face delays if Democrats filed a complaint with the charter court. "However, we are not worried about this because the government has not acted illegally. We are ready to give a clear explanation," he said.

Varathep made no comment when asked if the government would collapse due to legal technicalities and corruption allegations. He noted that only a small group of people had filed complaints with the courts and independent agencies. "It is not unusual that there are so many cases against the government," he said.

Pheu Thai MP Apiwan Wiriyachai, a former deputy House speaker, was of the opinion that the 2007 Constitution had given eight agencies the power to "scrutinise" the government, in particular, the NACC, Constitutional Court and Administrative Court. "People who like one party and hate the other" were selected to be independent commissioners. This was one reason why the Pheu Thai government faced so many charges, he added.

"The opposition knows they cannot win in the House so they use several tactics to delay the process. But I'm confident the government can deal with it and may complete its full term," Apiwan said.

Pandit Chanrochanakit, acting deputy dean of Ramkhamhaeng University's Faculty of Political Science, said the Constitutional Court had no authority to rule on the constitutionality of the charter-amendment bill. He said if the court rejected a similar case filed by another group involving Article 68 of the Constitution, the judges may end up being charged with misconduct.

"The charter court has exceeded its authority and independent agencies have become politicians' tools. Every time an independent agency accepts a petition that makes no sense, it is damaging its own reputation," he said.

Pandit said there was a need to treat the Constitution neutrally with the balance of power held between the three branches of government - the judicial, legislative and executive branches. "Everybody should respect the majority. If we don't do that, the government will have to face several political challenges. People may ask if we still need independent agencies," he said.

NACC member Vichai Vivitasevi declined to comment on the many cases being investigated against the government by the agency. As chairman of an NACC subcommittee investigating an impeachment petition against the prime minister and former defence minister Sukampol Suwannathat, Vichai said he intended to complete the task as soon as possible. Both Yingluck and Sukampol were accused of interfering with the transfer of permanent secretary for defence General Satien Permthong-in.

Vichai, a former judge, said the NACC was also like a judge in that it feared nothing and was prepared to hand down judgements despite threats to its staff.


-- The Nation 2013-10-07

[NongKhaiKid]

Did I read this correctly, some PTP leaders that the rice pladging scheme may be exposed ? Now that is serious.

If, and it's a big one, something comes of the NCCC enquiry we can be sure any culpability will not end up where it should, at the very top !

[indyuk]

Thailand, its government and the monarchy have many enemies currently. Much of the work of the activists has drawn the opposition into dereliction of its duties. Absurdly some of the malfeasant activists are themselves members of the opposition and continue to abscond from their duties whilst continuing to draw a salary from the treasury whilst expending the peoples money in a malevolent way. Some of these people even call themselves Royalists.

[slapout]

I am surprised that the free computer per child program is not mentioned. The last report I saw, 30% of the tablets delivered had malfunctioned and the repair/support venues have closed or gone missing. The next delivery has been delayed due to a factory fire???? and additional units to be supplied are in a holding patter due to bidding questions.

Now the government has proposed a 3000 baht coupon to be given to each student to buy their own tablet, as it would appear no one knows how to handle what has been done, whats in the mill, nor future purches to finalize a program that seems a complete failure, to date.