Thread: Thailand : PM to Decide on House Dissolution in 4 Months

one million inches = 25.4 kilometers
A billion inches is 15783 miles, more than halfway around the earth

Very few people can conceptualise these numbers, Thai or otherwise.
Einstein's

Originally Posted by sabang

one million inches = 25.4 kilometers
A billion inches is 15783 miles, more than halfway around the earth

Very few people can conceptualise these numbers, Thai or otherwise.
Einstein's

Exactly. If you were using such a measure every day you would have some idea of its value. Try changing a 500 baht note in an up country village market to get some perspective of the numbers poor Thais deal with.

arh , but is that a long or short billion ?

Originally Posted by Mid

arh , but is that a long or short billion ?

Only a couple or few noughts isn't it?

http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255404160013

Maj Gen Sanan wished to see Democrats and Pheu Thais join hands to form an administration

BANGKOK, 16 April 2011 (NNT)-Deputy Prime Minister Maj Gen Sanan Kajornprasart said it would be up to the Court whether to withdraw the bails for Red Shirt core leaders while also foreseeing no party to dominate in the next election.

Chat Thai Pattana chief adviser Major General Sanan added following the attempt to revoke the bails by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) expected to take place next Monday that the Court may need sometime to deliberate on the matter. If any of them found to have violated bail conditions, they would be prosecuted.

Meanwhie, he expressed his confidence that there would be no single party government after the election. He added that a multi party government is more likely than the other way around, adding he wished to see both the Democrat and Pheu Thai Parties join hands in establishing the new government. He cited no problem for his own party to be in the opposition.

Democrat: Songkran helps revive Silom’s image after violence last year : National News Bureau of Thailand

Democrat: Songkran helps revive Silom’s image after violence last year BANGKOK, 16 April 2011 (NNT) – The ruling Democrat Party believes the reputation of Silom Road, which was damaged by the political mayhem in 2010, has improved, thanks to this year’s joyful celebration of the Songkran Festival.

Spokesperson of the Democrat Party MD Buranaj Smutharaks pointed out that images of the latest Songkran celebrative activities on Bangkok’s Silom Road had been disseminated across the globe. As a result, he voiced confidence that the festival would give foreigners a better impression of the capital’s famous tourist spot after its name was tainted by the deadly clashes between protesters of the red-shirt United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) and the multi-color group last year.

Meanwhile, MD Buranaj assured that the upcoming general election would help propel the country forward while revealing that some MPs of other parties had expressed their intention to run for MP seats under the Democrat banner during the poll.

The Spokesperson recommended all political parties, especially Pheu Thai, to start unveiling their policies and MP candidates from 23 April onwards in order to allow sufficient time for Thai people to decide who to vote for. He also criticized an attempt by certain groups to bring members of the Shinawatra family to power, saying it was clearly part of the strategy to ultimately grant amnesty to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra without an aim to benefit the nation.


Reporter : Surapan Laotharanarit

Originally Posted by Mid

and who was doing that ?

You were or I misread "auto's" in English? and wasn't it was you that butted in with your off topic post, never mind "mid" if splitting hairs pleases you then I'm happy for you.

Originally Posted by Mid

thinking is something you could practise before you blaber away on the keyboard

"mid" it's BLABBER not "blaber"...for Christ's sake get an English dictionary, your wearing me out, it's no wonder you only cut and paste!

Originally Posted by English Noodles

Clueless as ever, Rodders.

Thank you "noodles" expand on that post any time you're ready?

Bangkok Post : Democrats name 'policy day'

News > Politics
GENERAL ELECTION

• Published: 16/04/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

The Democrats will officially unveil their 25% minimum wage increase on Wednesday, spokesman Buranat Samuttarak said yesterday, while deriding Puea Thai's 300 baht a day wage promise.

A policeman takes a photo of a Democrat Party campaign billboard put up on land rented by Puea Thai MP for Bangkok, Pairote Issarasereepong, in Nong Chok district of the city. Puea Thai has complained to the police about the billboard, which they say encroaches on their land. APICHIT JINAKUL

The "Moving Forward with Policies for the Public" two-year plan will also aim to increase farmers' profits by 25% under the income insurance scheme.
Mr Buranat said the Democrat Party will maintain its seven social welfare programmes, including free electricity for 90 units of usage or less, and subsidies on diesel and cooking gas.

The party will also extend the 15-year free education programme to the university level.

Mr Buranat said the Democrats also intend to achieve seven new projects, including the Chinese-Thai joint development of a high-speed rail route that will link China with Thailand and Malaysia.

Mr Buranat lashed out at Puea Thai Party's policies, such as increasing the daily minimum wage to 300 baht. He said the drastic increase could cause employers to operate at a loss, compared to the Democrat's proposed gradual minimum wage hike which would give employers more time to adjust.

He also said Puea Thai's proposals to issue farmers with credit cards would only leave farmers deeper in debt.

Thepthai Senpong, personal spokesman for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, said he believed that neither the Democrats nor Puea Thai would win more than 200 seats in the upcoming election.

He said a prediction made by Puea Thai that it would gain 270 seats was simply a propaganda stunt.

Mr Thepthai noted recent polls showed that ratings of the Democrat Party and Puea Thai were equally high.

He also predicted that the Democrat Party will gain at least 51 seats in the party list system.

Originally Posted by The Bold Rodney

.....

twat .

Originally Posted by Mid

twat .

What's the matter "mid" missing your boyfriend here?

Keep up your cut and pastes until you can assemble a legible sentence in English that makes any sense!

That is if you ever can, however I doubt it will be anytime soon.

How to make friends and influence people - course missed.

Senators want delay in House dissolution

Senators want delay in House dissolution

By Satien Viriyapanpongsa,
Samatcha Hoonsara,
Khanittha Thapphajorn
The Nation on Sunday
Published on April 17, 2011


Rosana says more time needed to scrutinise new laws but PM stands firm

While Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has made clear his intention to dissolve the House of Representatives in the first week of May, some senators said they should be given more time to scrutinise election-related laws.

House dissolution should be deferred to the end of May, said Bangkok senator Rosana Tositrakul.

However, Abhisit insisted on keeping to his plan, reiterating: "I confirm that the deadline for House dissolution is within the first week of May. I would like to ask for Parliament's cooperation to pass the three laws, which can be done within this month as the House has already passed them and there is nothing complicated. The laws have just been changed to be in line with the new constituency allocation."

Abhisit said he wanted to keep his promise and it would be for the Election Commission to schedule the election date and issue regulations, which can be done in the meantime before the laws are endorsed.

Last Monday, the Senate agreed with the principles of the three organic laws - on the election and the appointment of senators, the Election Commission and political parties.

A senatorial panel was given one week to deliberate on the laws and bring them to the Senate meeting again tomorrow. Some expect the laws to be passed within one day.

Rosana said she disagrees with the practice of setting a deadline for the Senate to pass the three organic laws related to the election by tomorrow.
There are still debatable issues in some of the legislation, including advance voting, which some senators said should be removed as it opened the way for electoral fraud.

"I don't understand why the House dissolution deadline must have been set to within the first week of May, and the Senate expected to expedite all the [law-making] process for that. If this is done, deliberation on the laws will not be careful enough," she said. "The country is heading for an election, hence all sides should create an atmosphere of being reasonable and make the process as good as possible to prevent future problems," she added.

Senators, including those who are newly selected, deserve a chance to discuss the laws until April 25, Rosana said. The scrutinising panel could then bring the amended version to the Senate meeting on May 2. The laws would be passed then if the Senate agrees with the version proposed by the House. Otherwise a joint House-Senate committee must be set up and work on the laws for about two weeks. The premier could dissolve the House by the end of May in that case.

Rosana's remarks were similar to those of Ratchaburi senator Kecha Saksomboon, a member of the senatorial panel scrutinising the laws, who had said the House dissolution should be postponed to after May 10 to get the organic laws ready in time.

Deputy House Speaker Nikom Wairatpanij said yesterday he had no idea why the panel would not be able to finish its work and bring the laws to the Senate meeting by tomorrow, when the Senate whip had discussed the timeline earlier.

Bangkok MP Atavit Suwannapakdee, secretary of the government whip, on Friday said the government would try to push five bills through Parliament before dissolving the House and this may lead to a delay in the date of House dissolution.

The five laws are: the Consumer Protection Independent Organisation Act, Public Assembly Act, Social Security and Monetary Compensation Act, Environmental and Independent Health Organisation Act and the Thai Occupations Act.

In a separate development, Nikom, a candidate for the Senate Speaker's post, said the meeting to vote for the new speaker to replace outgoing Senate head Prasobsook Boondech has been set for April 22. Nominated candidates can present their visions for five to 10 minutes. After that, senators will receive envelopes for secret voting.

Chaiyasit, Wan to run for Pheu Thai

Chaiyasit, Wan to run for Pheu Thai

By The Nation on Sunday
Published on April 17, 2011

Pheu Thai Party yesterday unveiled General Chaiyasit Shinawatra, cousin of former premier Thaksin, as its MP candidate for Ratchaburi constituency 1.

Four other candidates for the party in the western province are all local politicians: Pongsak Kitprasert, Sayan Changpanich, Wasan Tiengtrong and Amporn Penthamrongrat.

In Bangkok, deputy spokesman Jirayu Huangsap introduced two new MP candidates for the capital: Wan Yoobamrung and Anuttama Amornwiwat. Wan is the son of veteran politician and former Pheu Thai MP Chalerm, while Anuttama is daughter of former Department of Special Investigation director-general and police chief Sombat.

Wan said he decided to run in the election as the popularity for his father and the party in the constituency was good. Anuttama, a former lecturer at Thammasat and Chulalongkorn universities, said she wanted to apply her knowledge and experience to develop Thai education.

Veerakarn on Prayuth

Veerakarn on Prayuth

By The Nation on Sunday
Published on April 17, 2011

In a surprise move, former red-shirt leader Veerakarn Musigapong showed up at a ceremony to ask for blessings from the elderly at the home of Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kajornprasart.

Veerakarn, previously known as Veera, said the Army should try harder to be clear about who they are fighting against as sometimes they could waste their time fighting a mirage or imaginary enemy which doesn't exist. He said the Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha was still new at his job and may over-react. He urged all sides to create a positive feel for the election, adding that red shirts were ready to accept the result no matter who wins.

On politics, Sanan declined to confirm that Asawin Wipoosiri, an MP from his Chart Thai Pattana Party, had joined the Democrats. But Asawin said he would switch party and his son Charnwit would represent the Democrats as a Bangkok MP candidate.

MPs troubled by Thaksin's involvement

PUEA THAI SOURCE SAYS EX-PM 'TOO CLOSE'
17/04/2011

Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's increased role in politics has ruffled some feathers at the Puea Thai Party, said a party source.

Several Puea Thai MPs feel Thaksin is getting too close for comfort when it comes to running party affairs, given his five-year ban from politics and the criminal charges he faces, said the source.

Thaksin routinely phones in to address both red shirt demonstrations and party meetings.

He reportedly discussed future political strategies for Puea Thai in a phone call with party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Pracharaj Party leader Sanoh Thienthong at a recent Puea Thai meeting. Mr Sanoh plans to dissolve his party and join the opposition.

Moreover, there is a report that Thaksin is to name Puea Thai's candidate for the premiership in the upcoming election. One of the potential candidates is his younger sister, Yingluck.

According to the source, there is a strong feeling among some MPs that Thaksin has failed to honour his promise to keep the red shirt movement and Puea Thai apart and to allow the party to manage the election effort.

"The latest plan is that he will lead the presentation of the party policy. This is inappropriate because he has a [political] ban," said the source.

The source said Thaksin's intervention in party affairs, coupled with the involvement of a number of party MPs in the red shirt movement, will put Puea Thai in a very difficult situation, especially in the election, which is expected to be held in June.

A number of party MPs, including Jatuporn Prompan, Wichean Khaokham and Apiwan Wiriyachai, have attended red shirt rallies in which political opponents claim remarks seen as offensive to the monarchy were made.

The source said about 30-40 MPs, including those led by Mingkwan Saengsuwan, who has designs on Puea Thai leadership, have considered defecting.

Mr Mingkwan's group, which includes about 10 MPs, reportedly met with Mr Sanoh during the Songkran festival last week to discuss its concerns.

The Thaksin issue is also expected to be raised at the meeting of the party's strategy committee soon, the source said.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party spokesman Buranat Samuttarak said he expects Puea Thai to unveil its prime ministerial candidate next week.

He said the voters would likely want to know Puea Thai's candidate for the premiership before the MP candidates are announced.

Chart Thai Pattana Party chief adviser Sanan Kachornprasart said yesterday that he wished to see the Democrat and Puea Thai parties form a coalition after the next elections.

He said smaller parties like his are willing to be the opposition.

He also said there is a chance that Deputy Finance Minister Pradit Phataraprasit will join Chart Thai Pattana after he resigned as secretary-general of the Ruam Chart Pattana Party.

According to Maj Gen Sanan, Chart Thai Pattana will unveil its candidates for the party list system on April 21.

bangkokpost.com

^The usual internal power struggles.

Bangkok Post : Candidates unveiled

News > Politics

• Published: 17/04/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

The general election is expected to be fiercely contested in Bangkok constituencies with the Puea Thai Party and Democrat Party fielding new candidates.



Puea Thai yesterday unveiled two new contenders to run in Bangkok _ Wan Yubamrung, son of former Puea Thai chief MP Chalerm, and Anuttama Amornvivat, daughter of Pol Maj Gen Sombat, former Department of Special Investigation chief.

Puea Thai deputy spokesman Jirayu Huangsap said the party has already chosen candidates to run in all 33 Bangkok constituencies.

The party will wait for the Election Commission to finish drawing the constituencies in the capital before deciding who will be fielded where.

Mr Wan said he has long aspired to enter politics and that he admired former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, now the de facto party leader.

He said he would run for a seat in a constituency covering Bang Bon and Nong Khaem districts, where he expects strong voter support.

Mr Wan is known for past controversies, having been charged in connection with several altercations in nightlife spots.

Ms Anuttama has a raft of academic achievements. She has an international relations bachelor's degree from Chulalongkorn University's faculty of political science and two master's degrees from the United States _ one in international business from Boston University and one in international economic policy from Columbia University.

She worked at the government's Department of Export Promotion, before becoming a lecturer in international marketing at Chulalongkorn and Thammasat universities. Ms Anuttama is also an adviser to a House committee on international affairs.

Meanwhile, Democrat spokesman Buranat Samuttarak yesterday said the party may field new candidates to run in constituencies not currently represented by the party. The new faces include Akanat Promphan, stepson of Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, and television host Taenkhun Jit-issara. The 24-year-old Oxford graduate in engineering, economics and business administration is now a secretary to Mr Suthep.

Bangkok Post : Poll: 77.16% of voters to turn out

News > Politics

• Published: 17/04/2011 at 11:05 AM
• Online news:

More than 77 per cent of eligible voters polled recently said they would turn out to exercise voting rights at the coming polls for the betterment of the country, according to the results of Suan Dusit poll released on Sunday.

The pollsters surveyed 1,569 people nationwide on “people’s readiness for the coming election” from April 12 to 16.

Suan Dusit poll said 77.16 per cent of them said they were ready to turn out to cast their votes because they want to see a real change in Thailand and to get good people to run the country.

Asked about negative factors that could discourage them to turn out, the largest percentage of the respondents (34.47%) said the economic problems, followed by the natural disasters, the social division, the slandering each other by political rivals and the protests by various groups of people.

http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255404170017

Democrats praise Pheu Thai members who support election

BANGKOK, 17 April 2011 (NNT)-Democrat Party Executive Satit Pitutecha has expressed his agreement with some of the Pheu Thai Party members who show support for the election.

Mr. Satit has urged members of the Opposition to uphold national interests and show supports for the poll instead of opposing it. He added that they should not become too attached to their leaders, citing the election is the best solution for everyone at present.

He praised Pheu Thai member Mr. Prodprasob Surasawadee for agreeing with the idea to hold the election. Meanwhile, he pressed the Pheu Thai Party to explain to the public if their latest rally last Sunday was really to bring peace to the nation.

Mr. Satit said he was not worried over a new party “Phalang Chon” saying that its base was only in Chonburi province and it would not have much impact on the number of Democrat MPs in the East. He also cited the launch of the new party as an effort to strengthen the Bhumi Jai Thai Party as an ally.

Bangkok Post : PM urges senators to pass organic laws

PM urges senators to pass organic laws

• Published: 17/04/2011 at 12:38 PM
• Online news: Politics

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called on senators to rapidly pass the election-related organic laws in order to move forward to the election.

In his “Confidence in Thailand with PM Abhisit” weekly programme on Sunday morning, Mr Abhisit said he called for cooperation for the senators to pass the bills because he plans to dissolve the House of Representatives within the first week of May.

The prime minister said moving toward to the election will help create confidence among the general public, even though it is not the answer to all things.

He admitted that the election would not help resolve all problems but the government’s intention to move ahead to a general election will help restore confidence in Thailand among the international community.

“I am confidence that there will be political stability after the election. And the new government elected by the majority of people will be able to affectively settle the problems of people,” said Mr Abhisit.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Mr. Satit has urged members of the Opposition to uphold national interests and show supports for the poll instead of opposing it.

and which PT members are opposing the election ?

Originally Posted by Mid

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Mr. Satit has urged members of the Opposition to uphold national interests and show supports for the poll instead of opposing it.

and which PT members are opposing the election ?

Ditto. Unlikely there'll be an answer to that. Messrs Satit, Thepthai and Buranaj with their creations make Jatuporn look a rank amateur.

Originally Posted by SteveCM

Wan Yubamrung

AKA "Mr Happy Toilet"