Acting Thai PM Niwattumrong won't resign

[Zolt]

If you give me your address I send you a satellite dish.....

It is told and repeated a 1.000.000 times what the policies and intentions are.

The ultra short version for you:

up to who propose the government it should be 1-14 month in office.

The short version should only make fair and free elections possible...by allowing everyone campaign where they want (ergo the Democrats can also campaign in red villages).

Efficiently ban vote buying and similar cheating.

The max. version with 12-14 month:

make harsh laws against corruption

review the oil and gas contracts, if they are fair or way underpaid in exchange for corruption money

improve and protect the separation of power

get rid of the Shinawatra system in politics

consult with the public on every topic.

etc etc etc

Endless discussed.....

I wholeheartedly agree that stricter laws against corruption, and their actual enforcement would benefit Thailand. However I would like to raise two points:

- The 2007 constitution already implemented powerful independent committees against corruption and malfeasance in government which do have power to review all government contracts: The NACC, Ombudsman office and Constitutional Court. These institutions already have enough power to shut down a government (as indeed they have multiple times). The reform you propose would therefore be centered around them. Do you propose to give them even more power?

- You suggest to pass new laws against corruption, yet laws cannot be passed without a full House and Senate under this constitution. House MPs can only be elected. What's the legal way around that?

[Zolt]

If you give me your address I send you a satellite dish.....

It is told and repeated a 1.000.000 times what the policies and intentions are.

The ultra short version for you:

up to who propose the government it should be 1-14 month in office.

The short version should only make fair and free elections possible...by allowing everyone campaign where they want (ergo the Democrats can also campaign in red villages).

Efficiently ban vote buying and similar cheating.

The max. version with 12-14 month:

make harsh laws against corruption

review the oil and gas contracts, if they are fair or way underpaid in exchange for corruption money

improve and protect the separation of power

get rid of the Shinawatra system in politics

consult with the public on every topic.

etc etc etc

Endless discussed.....

I wholeheartedly agree that stricter laws against corruption, and their actual enforcement would benefit Thailand. However I would like to raise two points:

- The 2007 constitution already implemented powerful independent committees against corruption and malfeasance in government which do have power to review all government contracts: The NACC, Ombudsman office and Constitutional Court. These institutions already have enough power to shut down a government (as indeed they have multiple times). The reform you propose would therefore be centered around them. Do you propose to give them even more power?

- You suggest to pass new laws against corruption, yet laws cannot be passed without a full House and Senate under this constitution. House MPs can only be elected. What's the legal way around that?

[Robby nz]

Ah, so they got dissolved at the same time as Parliament did they? They're Acting Caretaker Senators? Right. You're believing too much of your own red shirt propaganda lol

Look it's simple. The senate had a royally decreed session which was to endorse a new member of the NACC and new specialists for the Administrative Court. That session has ended. There is a group of appointed senators holding informal meetings but making statements on behalf of the whole senate which they cannot do. If you think that's red shirt propaganda you ought to read more.

Acting Senate speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai chaired an informal discussion on how the Senate could help to find a “way out” of the political impasse this afternoon with a five-point message calling, among others, for parties in the conflict to refrain from inciting public hatred against one another and to refrain from violence.

In the same message, Mr Surachai also urged the media to report on the political situation accurately and honestly and to refrain from disseminating information which may worsen the conflict. He also called on members of the public who may have any recommendations on how to resolve the political stalemate to present them to the office of the Senate secretary-general.

Altogether 86 senators took part in the informal discussion which was not televised live because of an order from the secretary-general of the House of Representatives Mr Suvichak Narkwatcharachai, claiming that the discussion was informal and the senators who joined the discussion would not be entitled to immunity.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/surachai-heads-informal-discussion-political-impasse/

So what you are saying is that a group of 26 appointed acting caretaker cabinet ministers can prevent the only fully constituted part of the Thai Government the Senate from operating.

It would seem that a majority of the senators were present at the discussion, you know a majority like in a democracy where a only a majority is required to win a vote or election.

However there was no vote and therefore no resolution as it was an informal discussion.

That a group of (completely impartial) senators decided not to attend after flying to Singapore to met with a criminal fugitive is their prerogative and incidentally their loss as they then had no opportunity for input.

[jennywren]

How will this read out in the real world.

The elected Government won't resign even under threat.

The appointed Senate, sitting informally out of session won't consider getting itself elected and prosecutes the elected Government for daring to suggest they do become elected.

The "Partisan" bodies that in many countrys would be independent, try to force out the elected Government by breaking every rule in the book (Const.) The book that they wrote I might add.

These self selected bodies then band together to try give the illusion they are trying to resolve a crisis that they themselves totally manufactured.

Hmmm is that zero support for PDRC outside BKK or just as close as possible to zero.

Some of the local media may be on board, but no others.

[ginjag]

Surachai Liengboonlertchai, Senate speaker-elect, was to meet Mr Niwatthamrong but he felt sick this morning.

Conscience is a strange thing - it can affect the body in so many ways

Your conscience is, education #33 #34 ??? ran off did you .

Regarding this, of course no one can touch him he is the PM. but shame everything is a fix isn't it ???

[Trembly]

Honest question : how is it possible that he can be a caretaker PM when he is not and has never been an MP?

Which part of the constitution allows this?

[fab4]

Insisting that you have " full authority as a caretaker prime minister " sounds almost a contradiction in terms. And it's getting more and more thin a claim as indeed every legislative lever has slipped out of this " administration's " fingers. Exactly how does one claim full authority when -

1. He was elected through means not only unprecedented but unconstitutional.

2. The Yingluck administration dissolved parliament on December 9. Their public mandate came to a constitutional stop on March 5 once 30 days had expired since the election without a parliamentary sitting, and April 4 after a prime minister wasn't nominated through that parliament. The Yingluck administration doesn't exist. There is no public mandate for another.

3. He has no parliament, and therefore no legislative power to enact any policy or obtain public funds for them whatsoever.

On the other hand, what he can do constitutionally without any question or controversy whatsoever -

1. Is sit at a table with a nice floral arrangement on it.

All political arguments will dissolve in the light of one issue and one issue alone - whether a country - any country - can fiscally function for an indefinite period of time without a fully functioning government that has the power of the purse. The more and more remote an election becomes, the more likely the Senate will take the next step.

Constitution Section 181, scamper, section 181.

[fab4]

So what you are saying is that a group of 26 appointed acting caretaker cabinet ministers can prevent the only fully constituted part of the Thai Government the Senate from operating.

It would seem that a majority of the senators were present at the discussion, you know a majority like in a democracy where a only a majority is required to win a vote or election.

However there was no vote and therefore no resolution as it was an informal discussion.

That a group of (completely impartial) senators decided not to attend after flying to Singapore to met with a criminal fugitive is their prerogative and incidentally their loss as they then had no opportunity for input.

Where did I mention 26 appointed senators? Do some research, robbynz, I'm not doing your thinking for you.

Edited May 19, 2014 by fab4

[marinediscoking]

Ah, so they got dissolved at the same time as Parliament did they? They're Acting Caretaker Senators? Right. You're believing too much of your own red shirt propaganda lol

Look it's simple. The senate had a royally decreed session which was to endorse a new member of the NACC and new specialists for the Administrative Court. That session has ended. There is a group of appointed senators holding informal meetings but making statements on behalf of the whole senate which they cannot do. If you think that's red shirt propaganda you ought to read more.

Acting Senate speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai chaired an informal discussion on how the Senate could help to find a “way out” of the political impasse this afternoon with a five-point message calling, among others, for parties in the conflict to refrain from inciting public hatred against one another and to refrain from violence.

In the same message, Mr Surachai also urged the media to report on the political situation accurately and honestly and to refrain from disseminating information which may worsen the conflict. He also called on members of the public who may have any recommendations on how to resolve the political stalemate to present them to the office of the Senate secretary-general.

Altogether 86 senators took part in the informal discussion which was not televised live because of an order from the secretary-general of the House of Representatives Mr Suvichak Narkwatcharachai, claiming that the discussion was informal and the senators who joined the discussion would not be entitled to immunity.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/surachai-heads-informal-discussion-political-impasse/

So what you are saying is that a group of 26 appointed acting caretaker cabinet ministers can prevent the only fully constituted part of the Thai Government the Senate from operating.

It would seem that a majority of the senators were present at the discussion, you know a majority like in a democracy where a only a majority is required to win a vote or election.

However there was no vote and therefore no resolution as it was an informal discussion.

That a group of (completely impartial) senators decided not to attend after flying to Singapore to met with a criminal fugitive is their prerogative and incidentally their loss as they then had no opportunity for input.

I thought the senators who supposedly flew to Singapore was proven a lie. Can you provide the prof they went?

[ginjag]

How will this read out in the real world.

The elected Government won't resign even under threat.

The appointed Senate, sitting informally out of session won't consider getting itself elected and prosecutes the elected Government for daring to suggest they do become elected.

The "Partisan" bodies that in many countrys would be independent, try to force out the elected Government by breaking every rule in the book (Const.) The book that they wrote I might add.

These self selected bodies then band together to try give the illusion they are trying to resolve a crisis that they themselves totally manufactured.

Hmmm is that zero support for PDRC outside BKK or just as close as possible to zero.

Some of the local media may be on board, but no others.

quote. "zero support outside of BKK" what Number 9 bus you fell off. ???

Elected governments are no guarantee that they rule democratically. As it is in this case, The book is being thrown at them, but your not in the library to see it.

[Robby nz]

Honest question : how is it possible that he can be a caretaker PM when he is not and has never been an MP?

Which part of the constitution allows this?

Yep exactly and how many more of the 26 have never been MP's ?

There is no such thing as an elected cabinet minister, if it comes down to it they were all appointed to the job of cabinet ministers, some after flying off to lobby a convicted criminal on the run for the post.

Many have absolutely no qualifications for the jobs they were given other than having created some sort of a debt and were given the jobs as a reward to repay that debt.

There is at least one there who has already been banned for 5 years for electoral fraud and then Nuttawat who is on bail for terrorist charges.

These are the people who are supposedly running this country and in the process intimidating and threatening courts the NACC and other legally constituted checks and balances bodies.

And of course the Senate which is at present the only legal arm of Government.

Is this democracy, and should these few people be able to hold the country to ransom by attempting to thwart every effort to find a way forward so reforms can take place followed by free and fair general elections ?

[Robby nz]

Look it's simple. The senate had a royally decreed session which was to endorse a new member of the NACC and new specialists for the Administrative Court. That session has ended. There is a group of appointed senators holding informal meetings but making statements on behalf of the whole senate which they cannot do. If you think that's red shirt propaganda you ought to read more.

Acting Senate speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai chaired an informal discussion on how the Senate could help to find a “way out” of the political impasse this afternoon with a five-point message calling, among others, for parties in the conflict to refrain from inciting public hatred against one another and to refrain from violence.

In the same message, Mr Surachai also urged the media to report on the political situation accurately and honestly and to refrain from disseminating information which may worsen the conflict. He also called on members of the public who may have any recommendations on how to resolve the political stalemate to present them to the office of the Senate secretary-general.

Altogether 86 senators took part in the informal discussion which was not televised live because of an order from the secretary-general of the House of Representatives Mr Suvichak Narkwatcharachai, claiming that the discussion was informal and the senators who joined the discussion would not be entitled to immunity.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/surachai-heads-informal-discussion-political-impasse/

So what you are saying is that a group of 26 appointed acting caretaker cabinet ministers can prevent the only fully constituted part of the Thai Government the Senate from operating.

It would seem that a majority of the senators were present at the discussion, you know a majority like in a democracy where a only a majority is required to win a vote or election.

However there was no vote and therefore no resolution as it was an informal discussion.

That a group of (completely impartial) senators decided not to attend after flying to Singapore to met with a criminal fugitive is their prerogative and incidentally their loss as they then had no opportunity for input.

I thought the senators who supposedly flew to Singapore was proven a lie. Can you provide the prof they went?

No it is not a proven lie, it has never been denied by them, and the report that they had been to Singapore came from the Senate.

If you believe they did not go then you should provide the proof.

Incidentally neither did they deny the claim that they received a large sum of money for their co-operation.

[chotthee]

I've said it before and I apologize for repeating myself but Acting Caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisa needs a much easier name to remember who he is. Even the Thai staff at school can't remember his first name, let alone his surname or acting caretaker title. Perhaps the least famous prime minister in the world at the moment. Can't they give him a catchy nickname or something like PM Rong, PM Sing-song or PM Squid ... something memorable like we had for PM Crab before.

Acting Caretaker Prime Minister NB.

[marinediscoking]

Look it's simple. The senate had a royally decreed session which was to endorse a new member of the NACC and new specialists for the Administrative Court. That session has ended. There is a group of appointed senators holding informal meetings but making statements on behalf of the whole senate which they cannot do. If you think that's red shirt propaganda you ought to read more.

Acting Senate speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai chaired an informal discussion on how the Senate could help to find a “way out” of the political impasse this afternoon with a five-point message calling, among others, for parties in the conflict to refrain from inciting public hatred against one another and to refrain from violence.

In the same message, Mr Surachai also urged the media to report on the political situation accurately and honestly and to refrain from disseminating information which may worsen the conflict. He also called on members of the public who may have any recommendations on how to resolve the political stalemate to present them to the office of the Senate secretary-general.

Altogether 86 senators took part in the informal discussion which was not televised live because of an order from the secretary-general of the House of Representatives Mr Suvichak Narkwatcharachai, claiming that the discussion was informal and the senators who joined the discussion would not be entitled to immunity.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/surachai-heads-informal-discussion-political-impasse/

So what you are saying is that a group of 26 appointed acting caretaker cabinet ministers can prevent the only fully constituted part of the Thai Government the Senate from operating.

It would seem that a majority of the senators were present at the discussion, you know a majority like in a democracy where a only a majority is required to win a vote or election.

However there was no vote and therefore no resolution as it was an informal discussion.

That a group of (completely impartial) senators decided not to attend after flying to Singapore to met with a criminal fugitive is their prerogative and incidentally their loss as they then had no opportunity for input.

I thought the senators who supposedly flew to Singapore was proven a lie. Can you provide the prof they went?

No it is not a proven lie, it has never been denied by them, and the report that they had been to Singapore came from the Senate.

If you believe they did not go then you should provide the proof.

Incidentally neither did they deny the claim that they received a large sum of money for their co-operation.

No Senators went to see Thaksin! Please stop being a puppet for Sutep's propaganda.

http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/713420982?-2812:1026

[Dogmatix]

Niwattumrong insists he has full authority as caretaker PM

BANGKOK: -- Acting caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan insisted Monday that he has full authority as a caretaker prime minister.

Niwattumrong issued a statement after he held a meeting with a group of senators to discuss solutions for ending the political impasse.

Niwattumrong said he and the caretaker Cabinet are required to stay on by Article 181 and the May 7 Constitutional Court ruling until the next Cabinet takes office.

The prime minister said the charter does not allow the caretaker prime minister to resign either.

-- The Nation 2014-05-19

But he isn't the caretaker prime minister. That was Yingluck and she is gone. He is caretaker deputy prime minister and commerce minister and has been appointed as acting caretaker prime minister by the remaints of the cabinet without authority and without royal endorsement..

[noitom]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

glued to the chair....

Do you have enough glue?

[webfact]

POLITICS

PM tells Senate he will not resign

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Senate and the government failed to break the political deadlock at a meeting yesterday as acting Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan refused to step down to pave the way for an interim government as demanded by them and anti-government protesters.

With the government declining to cooperate, the option of pursuing the plan to install a neutral prime minister has been snuffed out, Senator Dej-Udom Krairit, one of the senators who spoke with Niwatthumrong, said.

The meeting between senators and Niwattumrong was held in the morning at an undisclosed location to discuss options for ending the political impasse.

After Niwattumrong refused to resign, senators held a three-hour-long closed-door meeting with a working group that was chaired by acting Senate Speaker Surachai Liengboonlertchai.

Though the Upper House was unable to arrive at a conclusion, Dej-Udom said Surachai will still go ahead with a press conference on the matter tomorrow.

Despite the acting premier’s refusal, Senator Somchai Sawaengkan said the senators would not give up and will continue trying to achieve the goal of installing an unelected prime minister and an interim cabinet. However, he did not elaborate on the plans and timeframe.

Second Deputy Senate Speaker Peerasak Porchit, who had spoken to Niwattumrong earlier yesterday, said the acting PM insisted that his caretaker government would continue working until a new government was put in place.

"He just listened but offered no response when I told him that his government did not have a full mandate and could not fully function," Peerasak said.

Peerasak represented Surachai in yesterday morning's meeting with Niwattumrong and caretaker Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri. Surachai missed the meeting, saying he was sick.

Niwattumrong later issued a statement, insisting that he and his Cabinet have full authority to function in a caretaker capacity, as they are required to stay on under Article 181 and the May 7 Constitutional Court ruling until the next Cabinet takes office.

"So now the country has a Cabinet and an acting PM who has full authority to administrate the country in line with the Constitution," the acting PM said.

Demands from other groups for a neutral PM are unlawful as the country already has a serving Cabinet and an acting PM, Niwattumrong said in the statement.

Appointing an overlapping prime minister while you already have one is unlawful, he added.

Also, appointing a new prime minister who has full authority is impossible because Article 181 still limits his or her authority to administrate the country, the statement said.

"Cabinet cannot resign"

The Cabinet cannot resign because it will be deemed as negligence and unconstitutional, the statement said.

He also said the caretaker government was ready to cooperate with the Senate or other groups to find a way out under the Constitution and existing laws.

The caretaker government is now facing challenges from the Senate and the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) who want to appoint a non-elected interim government.

PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban announced earlier that he expected victory by May 26, otherwise he would surrender on the following day.

The move, which Suthep has called his final battle, followed the Senate's call on Friday for the caretaker government to consider resigning and pave the way for a new administration with full authority to carry out national reform.

And the Senate said they were ready to appoint a new premier if necessary.

Suthep has called for the country to implement political reforms before an election under a neutral premier. The government, with Niwattumrong as the acting premier, insisted that an election could be held prior to the reforms.

An ex-minister from Pheu Thai Party, who asked not to be named, yesterday said fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra had vowed to stay on and fight and he won't retreat.

The source said Thaksin is now in Hong Kong and several former ministers and former MPs had flown to meet him.

Meanwhile Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday ordered the military to be on high alert for two weeks, and be prepared to respond if political talks fail to find a solution to the political crisis, a source from the Army said.

The alert order was issued at yesterday's meeting of Army units at the Army's operation centre.

Prayuth said if a way could be found to end the crisis, it would be good but the Army needed to be prepared if any violence took place and should help avoid confrontation between the two rival sides.

-- The Nation 2014-05-20

[Hardy99]

VERY good News !!

[klauskunkel]

Niwattumrong won’t resign

Acting Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan is ready to cooperate with the Senate to resolve the political impasse but will not resign, reasoning he may violate the laws.

No one ever resigns here, reasoning their butts get too big and their chairs just won't release them.

[Crushdepth]

Cling to power...hang on buddy, dig those nails in...noooooooOOOOOOO

[SOTIRIOS]

..........following precedent of his party.........

...........he wants to do as he pleases......

...........but....not violate the law............

[smedly]

Niwattumrong insists he has full authority as caretaker PM

..

..

Because his boss Thaksin told him

[Stan7444]

The Speaker ducked out here giving him an opportunity basically to ignore the meeting on the basis he wasn't there.

Could work against Suthep as well with that as both parties went out of their way to say it was informal and would be discussed in another informal meeting.

For those who can read between lines, this was a very bad day for PDRC, couple with the army seemingly preparing for clashes with them PDRC. This again when you read between the lines was a faction of the army distancing them selves from any Coup attempt publically.

Now with martial law the gov't will remain in place and the PDRC is f***ed finally. The Senate along with them as well with an acting and non-confirmed Senate president, who does not have the Constitutional power to do anything without a seated Parliment and Royal Decree. They got what they deserved.

[Baerboxer]

Surachai Liengboonlertchai, Senate speaker-elect, was to meet Mr Niwatthamrong but he felt sick this morning.

Conscience is a strange thing - it can affect the body in so many ways

Must be why Jat and Nat threw a sicky and missed going to caught then, eh? Their consciences

[connda]

glued to the chair....

Got a lust for Power? Try -- Mr T's brand Adhesive Butt Cement.

Once a PM sits, they never want to leave!

Remember: Politics in Thailand is as easy as "A", "B", "C". Get your bottle today!!!

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Edited May 20, 2014 by connda