AMLO bills pass first reading

[Lite Beer]

AMLO bills pass first reading
Prapasri Osathanon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE National Legislative Assembly (NLA) yesterday approved in principle three bills on the anti-money laundering agency, which will see the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) moved from the Justice Ministry and put directly under the prime minister.

The three bills passed the NLA' first reading with a vast majority of "yes" votes and a 21-member panel has been set up to further scrutinise the bill.

One of the bills makes it easier to fight acts of terrorism in line with international crime-fighting protocol. Evaluation of member countries' commitment to this protocol will begin next year.

The bill on the structure of AMLO would authorise its agents to carry weapons and will be granted greater authority to investigate and gather evidence.

The last bill covers more acts of crime under which violators would be subject to the freezing or seizure of ill-gotten assets. It will also allow greater protection of witnesses or informants who provided information leading to the arrest of wrongdoers or the seizure of their assets.

Under the new bills, AMLO will be put directly under the premier, who will then select its secretary-general, whose term will be extended from the current four years to six.

However, the bills specify that the chairman of AMLO's board of directors will not be a politician - a move that aims to stop the agency being used against political rivals.

NLA members have been debating the condition for AMLO to be put under the direct supervision of the prime minister, and Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has successfully defended the idea, by saying it would make for quicker operations, with less steps to coordinate with relevant agencies and trust by the international communit

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/AMLO-bills-pass-first-reading-30257384.html

-- The Nation 2015-04-04

[oneday]

Sometimes they call the leader of a country a "Figurehead" when someone else is really calling the shots. In this case, the "Figurehead" is the NLA...it's all a big show.

[rubl]

Tjeez, a reading, a vote, majority YES, sub commissions to scrutinise, make amendments, etc., etc.

Of course some here would like to see that skipped. It annoying to see the NLA work in the same way as the Yingluck Government, or any other democratic government for what it matters. Following the rules is obviously just the NCPO working on perception

[baboon]

Tjeez, a reading, a vote, majority YES, sub commissions to scrutinise, make amendments, etc., etc.

Of course some here would like to see that skipped. It annoying to see the NLA work in the same way as the Yingluck Government, or any other democratic government for what it matters. Following the rules is obviously just the NCPO working on perception

A sham reading, a sham vote, a sham majority YES by a rubber stamp assembly, sham subcommissions who will not make amendments unless instructed to, etc, etc. Yes, you might as well skip that.

What a derisive attempt to pull the wool over people's eyes. Even you must be embarrassed that you couldn't come up with better.

[metisdead]

A post baiting for off topic comments has been removed.

[EyesWideOpen]

Don't all bills pass on the first reading now ?????

[rubl]

Tjeez, a reading, a vote, majority YES, sub commissions to scrutinise, make amendments, etc., etc.

Of course some here would like to see that skipped. It annoying to see the NLA work in the same way as the Yingluck Government, or any other democratic government for what it matters. Following the rules is obviously just the NCPO working on perception

A sham reading, a sham vote, a sham majority YES by a rubber stamp assembly, sham subcommissions who will not make amendments unless instructed to, etc, etc. Yes, you might as well skip that.

What a derisive attempt to pull the wool over people's eyes. Even you must be embarrassed that you couldn't come up with better.

A 'sham' ? As in 'false appearance'? Well, I appreciate your opinion.

As for something better, that would be using a majority in a democratically elected parliament to push through a sneakily modified bill. At least with an appointed NLA people 'know' what they think they can assume.

[rubl]

Don't all bills pass on the first reading now ?????

There are three readings. Even with preparations a first reading still tends to give comments which require a sub commission to scrutinise the draft bill. Legal concerns may require more sub commissions. I'm not sure if in the past bills ever got rejected on first reading here in Thailand. Bills get withdrawn at times though.

[Srikcir]

Wouldn't moving AMLO from the Justice Ministry and put directly under the prime minister challenge transparency and encourage corruption when accountable to only the man who holds absolute power over all government agencies? Big deal that the Secretary-General of AMLO will be nonpolitical; the SG will report directly to the PM Prayut who also holds the AMLO budget.

The bottom line is that the military will be insulated from any money laundering probes. So much for equality of law under Juta reforms.

[rubl]

Wouldn't moving AMLO from the Justice Ministry and put directly under the prime minister challenge transparency and encourage corruption when accountable to only the man who holds absolute power over all government agencies? Big deal that the Secretary-General of AMLO will be nonpolitical; the SG will report directly to the PM Prayut who also holds the AMLO budget.

The bottom line is that the military will be insulated from any money laundering probes. So much for equality of law under Juta reforms.

I also think the AMLO should stay under the MoJ although as 'enforcement agency' with clear links to law and banks one may wonder if it should be a more independent organisation.

Here the AMLO website, in "about AMLO" you have "organisational structure" as still under the MoJ

http://www.amlo.go.th/amlofarm/farm/en/index.php?lang=en

For those interested this information network has more international aspects, cooperation, laws, etc., etc.

https://www.imolin.org