36 senators face impeachment for abuse of authority in charter amendment

[Lite Beer]

36 senators face impeachment for abuse of authority in charter amendment

BANGKOK: -- The National Anti-Corruption Commission has faulted 36 senators of abuse of authority for endorsing a constitutional amendment which will enable senators whose term has expired to contest senatorial election without having to take a break.

NACC secretary-general Sansern Poljiak said a list of the 36 senators would be submitted to the Senate so that it could launch an impeachment process against them.

The 36 senators to face impeachment are Prasit Pothasuthon of Suphan Buri, Somchart Panphat of Nakhon Pathom, Pol Maj-Gen Ongart Suwansingh of Loei,

Direk Thoengfung of Nonthaburi, Prawat Thongsomboon of Maha Sarakham, Krit Arthitkaew of Kamphaeng Phet, Pol Lt-Gen Pichai Sunthornsatjabul of Udon Thani, Pinyo Sainui of Krabi, Paibul Khamsiripong of Pathum Thani, Sumet Sripong of Nakhon Ratchasima.

Pol Lt-Col Chit Sriyoha Mukdathanapong of Muk Da Harn, Surapong Tanthanasrikul of Kanchanaburi, Pira Manathat of Lampang, Sitthisak Yontrakul of Kalasin, Surachai Chaitrakulthong of Chon Buri, Suvit Mekserikul of Samut Sakhon, Rakpong na Ubon of Nong Bua Lamphu, Bovornsak Kanasen of Amnart Charoen, Chaturong Thirakanok of Roi-et.

Singchai Thungthong of Uthai Thani, Yutthana Yuparit of Yasothon, Chuchai Lertpong-adisorn of Chiang Mai, Prasert Prakhusueksaphan of Khon Kaen, Slophon Srimalek of Nan, Tuan Abduloh of Yala, Pol Gen Kowit Pakdiphum of Ang Thong, Pradit Tanwattanapong of Sakhon Nakhon, Maj-Gen Kulchai Suwanboon of Chumphorn, Woravit Baru of Pattani, Sukho Wutthichote of Samut Prakan.

Thaweesak Kidbanchong of Buri Ram, Suriya Panjor of Satun, Thanom Songserm of Ubon Ratchathani, Boonsong Kowasivarach of Mae Hong Son, Worawit Wongsuwan of Lop Buri and Witthaya E-nala of Nakhon Phanom.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/36-senators-face-impeachment-abuse-authority-charter-amendment/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=36-senators-face-impeachment-abuse-authority-charter-amendment

-- Thai PBS 2014-04-29

[Scamper]

This is a substantial issue that finally makes its way to the Senate. In the Senate, these impeachment hearings will provide further opportunity to examine the case openly and fairly. This is the constitutional process.

[noitom]

This Thai nonsense is tedious.

[Robby nz]

Should this investigation lead to the senators impeachment it also has a bearing on the MP's who did exactly the same thing and will probably lead to their impeachment as well.

From what I read elsewhere the problem is not with the election of all senators which was agreed on by all parties, but the add-ons, the abolishment of the 6 year term and the allowing of family and friends of MP's to become senators.

These are the bits that the NACC has deemed to be unconstitutional and is the basis for the investigation.

All the senators involved have already finished their term however impeachment will mean they are banned from politics for 5 years.

Having finished their term, under the present law they are not allowed to stand for the senate again for 6 years but they could stand for parliament, the 5 year ban would prevent this.

If this is extrapolated to the MP's involved it will also mean a 5 year ban for them.

[cornishcarlos]

Ban them all and use cheap, imported politicians...

[pkspeaker]

So if they ban more than 300 MP's (just because they supported an amendment to the constitution that would have made the senate fully elected instead of half elected) AND lets say a new election in a few months actually happens w/o being sabotaged.. a new parliament finally convenes only to have most of it's members banned.. then what happens? I assume the parties that these MP's belong to simply list a new person to take the MPs seat.. and that it's not necessary to then have a 3rd election..

For these courts to rule that the senate makeup change or eg. the transfer of NSC-Tawil was improper is one thing, the decision is reversed and Tawil gets his job back and the senate remains half elected.

But to then go after the MP's and PM for these decisions is where these courts are abusing their power.. it is the courts that are guilty of abuse of power, not the MPs and senators.

[webfact]

NACC indicts 36 senators over Constitution amendment
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, April 30 -- Thailand's National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has indicted 36 senators for misconduct in attempting to amend the constitution to make the Senate a fully elected body.

NACC spokesman Sansern Poljiak said the anti-graft commissioners agreed to indict 36 former elected senators, out of 50, and would forward the indictments to the Senate which will decide whether they will be impeached.

They could also face five-year bans from politics.

The NACC has pressed charges against 308 lawmakers — 50 of them senators, mostly elected whose terms have expired — accusing them of misconduct in connection with the draft Constitution amendment.

Of the 36 former senators, 22 were indicted because they signed in support of the unlawful amendment and voted for it in all three readings.

The second group of 13 former senators was indicted because they signed in support of the amendment and voted for it in the first and third readings.

Another one was inducted because he has voted in the second reading of the amendment.

The NACC decided it would announce its decision on caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's alleged dereliction of duty in allowing corruption to take place in the controversial rice-pledging scheme on May 8 or May 15.

The agency rejected her request to allow seven more witnesses to testify in the case. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-04-30

[The Deerhunter]

So if they ban more than 300 MP's (just because they supported an amendment to the constitution that would have made the senate fully elected instead of half elected) AND lets say a new election in a few months actually happens w/o being sabotaged.. a new parliament finally convenes only to have most of it's members banned.. then what happens? I assume the parties that these MP's belong to simply list a new person to take the MPs seat.. and that it's not necessary to then have a 3rd election..

For these courts to rule that the senate makeup change or eg. the transfer of NSC-Tawil was improper is one thing, the decision is reversed and Tawil gets his job back and the senate remains half elected.

But to then go after the MP's and PM for these decisions is where these courts are abusing their power.. it is the courts that are guilty of abuse of power, not the MPs and senators.

That was sort-of my first reaction but on thinking it further, this is one the matters that strikes straight to the nepotism problems which have been the hall mark of this regime. If this sorts out a large bunch of the people who were "only doing what they were told" by the ghost PM in Dubai then that could be a very good thing. It would be nice to have the senate composed only of people who have only the best interests of ALL Thai people at heart. The Lower house too, but that is the next step.

[klauskunkel]

Senators Pol Maj-Gen, Pol Lt-Gen and Pol Lt-Col are they moonlighting as senators, or policemen? Sad how everybody here has to hold at least two fulltime jobs just to make ends meet...

[Thaddeus]

So if they ban more than 300 MP's (just because they supported an amendment to the constitution that would have made the senate fully elected instead of half elected) AND lets say a new election in a few months actually happens w/o being sabotaged.. a new parliament finally convenes only to have most of it's members banned.. then what happens? I assume the parties that these MP's belong to simply list a new person to take the MPs seat.. and that it's not necessary to then have a 3rd election..

For these courts to rule that the senate makeup change or eg. the transfer of NSC-Tawil was improper is one thing, the decision is reversed and Tawil gets his job back and the senate remains half elected.

But to then go after the MP's and PM for these decisions is where these courts are abusing their power.. it is the courts that are guilty of abuse of power, not the MPs and senators.

This is using the butter knife to open a crack in the can of worms, wait till the screwdriver comes out.

[MaxLee]

I suppose most of those senators are hired thugs of Thaksin, who would bail him and any other Pheu Thai puppet out, am I correct????

[xminator]

Starting to look like the only way to actually reform that left hand job constitution they made to keep the right people in power, and the coup generals out of court is another coup.

[pkspeaker]

In what other democracy are half the senators appointed by a military junta? The thinking after the coup was that this situation was temporary, otherwise-once the military leaves the scene, who does the 'appointing' - That's the problem with this system..

Using Thaksin as this 'boogyman' doesn't solve the problem, there are alot of people outside governments worldwide that are influential-there is no evidence that he was running the day-to-day operations of the government, anymore than anywhere else-I mean Hilary is probably going to be the next US Prez, does that mean that Bill is going to illegally have a second term in office-i mean the 2 kinda think the same..

Thailand cannot be a real democracy if it continues to have this little cabol of senators and NaCC/CC judges that have the real power, the power to take out ANY government on the most baseless charges. Everyone knows that the CC court 'judges' and NaCC 'prosecutors' are closely aligned with the democrat/PAD/PDRC 'Amart' faction. This faction nees to play by the rules and quit 'squating' in the halls of power. The whole reason the democrats do so poorly in the polls is because they are perseived to be cheaters and dictators, every stunt like these fake protests and fake corruption cases makes the do even worse in the polls, they did worse in 2011 then they did in 2007, it's gotten so bad they have to sabotage the election to hide their next embarasing failure.

So if they ban more than 300 MP's (just because they supported an amendment to the constitution that would have made the senate fully elected instead of half elected) AND lets say a new election in a few months actually happens w/o being sabotaged.. a new parliament finally convenes only to have most of it's members banned.. then what happens? I assume the parties that these MP's belong to simply list a new person to take the MPs seat.. and that it's not necessary to then have a 3rd election..

For these courts to rule that the senate makeup change or eg. the transfer of NSC-Tawil was improper is one thing, the decision is reversed and Tawil gets his job back and the senate remains half elected.

But to then go after the MP's and PM for these decisions is where these courts are abusing their power.. it is the courts that are guilty of abuse of power, not the MPs and senators.

That was sort-of my first reaction but on thinking it further, this is one the matters that strikes straight to the nepotism problems which have been the hall mark of this regime. If this sorts out a large bunch of the people who were "only doing what they were told" by the ghost PM in Dubai then that could be a very good thing. It would be nice to have the senate composed only of people who have only the best interests of ALL Thai people at heart. The Lower house too, but that is the next step.

[WoopyDoo]

So the other 14 that are appointed and still in their seats are in waiting for their fate along with almost all of the PTP MPs...

Great, I wonder how long we have to wait to see them all impeached?

Hope it is before the election... or ideally during the campaigning.

[rebelplatoon]

Sorry its the senators that made the amendment in order to remain in the saddle as it were. Seeing that 90% are from North and North East its clear they are the ones FOR the Government. How can anyone post here its got nothing to do with the Sae Khu family business? Its just not done so its a just ruling. Its a bit like what Putin did with the presidency and like what good ol' Adolf did with being both reichs chancelor and fuhrer. The whole system is adjusted to fit one party only.

[leggo]

Arrest everyone in the country immediately - then Thailand can start new elections where everybody will have a criminal record so nobody will feel left out!

[mikemac]

So if they ban more than 300 MP's (just because they supported an amendment to the constitution that would have made the senate fully elected instead of half elected) AND lets say a new election in a few months actually happens w/o being sabotaged.. a new parliament finally convenes only to have most of it's members banned.. then what happens? I assume the parties that these MP's belong to simply list a new person to take the MPs seat.. and that it's not necessary to then have a 3rd election..

For these courts to rule that the senate makeup change or eg. the transfer of NSC-Tawil was improper is one thing, the decision is reversed and Tawil gets his job back and the senate remains half elected.

But to then go after the MP's and PM for these decisions is where these courts are abusing their power.. it is the courts that are guilty of abuse of power, not the MPs and senators.

What's up mate ? Getting a bit worried that all the dirty rats you so adore are going to be dealt the hand they deserve ?

Karma is coming and you can hear the PTP fans sweating from here, drip - drip - drip......................

[chiang mai]

This Thai nonsense is tedious.

You shouldn't read what you can't understand, but mostly, you probably shouldn't be here.

[mikemac]

I suppose most of those senators are hired thugs of Thaksin, who would bail him and any other Pheu Thai puppet out, am I correct????

They must be, otherwise the red flag waving goons/trolls would not be up in arms.