Thread: MP: Red guard on House committee

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...-advisory-post

MP: Indicted red holds advisory post

• Published: 14/10/2010 at 12:09 PM
• Online news: Local News

A co-leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) charged with terrorism, Wiphuthalaeng Pattanaphumthai, is serving as an official adviser to Col Apiwan Wiriyachai, the second deputy House speaker, Democrat MP Vachara Phetthong said on Thursday.

Mr Vachara said the secretariat of the House of Representatives issued an order on Feb 25, 2008 and again on Oct 19, 2009 appointing Mr Wiphuthalaeng adviser to Col Apiwan, with a monthly salary of 10,000 baht.

The Democrat MP called for Col Apiwan to show responsibility since Mr Wiphuthalaeng is a co-leader of the UDD and has been indicted on terrorism charges. He is now being detained along with other UDD leaders at Bangkok Remand Prison.

The political appointment is inappropriate, he said, and is made on a yearly basis.

Mr Vachara called for Mr Wiphuthalaeng to return the money paid to him. He hoped Col Apiwan would not re-nominate Mr Wiphuthalaeng for the post this year.

The same MP on Wednesday demanded that Jatuporn Prompan, a UDD leader and Puea Thai MP, show responsibility for the appointment of Aree Krainara, a red guard leader charged with terrorism who is still at large, to membership of the House committee on political development, mass communications and public participation.

Mr Vachara, who is also a member of the House committee, said Mr Jatuporn recommended Mr Aree for the position.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/poli...ith-regulation

Jatuporn defends Aree's appointment

• Published: 14/10/2010 at 02:58 PM
• Online news: Breakingnews

The appointment of Aree Krainara, a red guard leader charged with terrorism who is still at large, to the House committee on political development, mass communications and public participation complied with the regulations governing House committees, Puea Thai Party list MP Jatuporn Prompan said on Thursday.

Mr Jatuporn said Mr Aree is a former counselling academic at Ramkhamhaeng University, and he had asked him to enter politics. Mr Aree was a civil servant turned politician.

He had been appointed a red-shirt guard because he used to work closely with students during his time in academia and was skilled at coordinating with different groups.

On Wednesday Democrat MP Vachara Phetthong demanded that Mr Jatuporn, who got Mr Aree the job, show responsibility for the appointment.

Mr Aree receives a monthly salary of 7,000 baht, which is paid by taxpayers.

Mr Jatuporn stoutly defended his actions. He said Mr Aree had received only four months of salary for the post -- from October 2009 to January 2010. He had not been paid after he decided to join the red-shirt movement.

Mr Jatuporn slammed Mr Vachara, accusing him of trying to smear his name.

I believe Jatuporn, because he never lies....

Just ask him about the Viktor Bout tape he said existed...

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/o...fessional-help

Do our lawmakers really want professional help?

• Published: 14/10/2010 at 03:28 PM
• Online news: Opinion

Since there are no set rules on required qualifications for the job of assistant, secretary or adviser to an MP or a senator, it is a free for all and they appoint anyone they feel fit to these jobs at the parliament.

Sp it should not come as a surprise if our senators or MPs appoint their drivers, jobless relatives, mistresses or current lovers as their assistants or as secretaries of the various parliamentary committees.

With the average stipend of a secretary of a House or Senate standing committee at 7,000 baht a month – barely 1,000 baht more than the minimum monthly wage – how can we expect MP sor a senators sitting on a parliamentary committee to hire an efficient person as its secretary.

Likewise, how can we expect an MP or a senator to be able to hire an efficient assistant if the maximum pay for the job is 9,000 to 10,000 baht a month, which is less than fresh graduate with a BA degree can earn at a private corporation.

So when Puea Thai MP Jatuporn Prompan, a co-leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, recommended that the House committee on political development and public participation appoint Aree Krainana, chief of the UDD’s security guards, as an outside expert on the committee, he probably did not expect Mr Aree would be able to provide any expertise or advice to the committee.

He might merely have wanted the red guards chief to get a job and get paid, at the taxpayers’ expense of course.

Likewise. Puea Thai MP Col Apiwan Wiriyachai, the second deputy House speaker, might not have expected any valuable advice from Wiphuthalaeng Pattanaphumthai, a co-leader of the UDD, when he appointed him as his adviser.

Both Mr Aree and Mr Wiphuthalaeng are facing terrorism charges for their roles in the April-May protest by the red-shirt people in Bangkok.

But our lawmakers themselves should not be held solely to blame for putting the wrong men in the wrong jobs, and therefore wasting the taxpayers’ money. The blame should be squarely placed on the parliamentary system itself, which opens the way for the legislators in both houses to exploit the system.

There are no set rules regarding qualifications for the jobs of assistants or advisors to senators or MPs, or for the committee secretaries. Hence, several of the legislators' chauffeurs also double as their assistants or advisers.

Certain qualifications, including an MA degree, are requirements for an expert attached to each lawmaker, but each parliamentarian is also entitled to hire five other assistants.

The pay scales for the jobs are unrealistically low, as if they were intentionally set to allow MPs or senators to appoint any fool to do the job.

House Speaker Chai Chidchob’s call for a meeting of government and opposition chief whips to discuss the issue of the appointments of assistants, advisers and secretaries to the MPs is, at best, a knee-jerk reaction. It will only scratch at the surface of the problem.

The entire system of these appoints as well as the pay scales for these jobs need to be addressed and then overhauled if our lawmakers are to be equipped with capable assistants, advisors or secretaries.

However, a big question mark remains to be answered. That is: “Do our MPs or senators really want professionals to assist them in their jobs? Or they prefer any fools just to fill up their quota of recruits that they are entitled to?

But, we, the taxpayers appear to have the answer. Stop the wasteful spending altogether if shoddy recruitment system cannot be improved.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/poli...e-appointments

Chai: Concerns over committee jobs

• Published: 14/10/2010 at 01:08 PM
• Online news: Local News

A discussion will be held with chiefs of government and opposition whips over appointments of outsiders close to politicians to sit on various House committees, which may have tarnished the image of the House of Representatives, House Speaker Chai Chidchob said on Thursday.

Mr Chai's move came after Vachara Phetthong, a Democrat Party MP, on Wednesday questioned the appropriateness of Aree Krainara, a red guard leader wanted on terrorism charges, having been appointed an academic attached to the House committee on political development and public participation on the recommendation of Puea Thai MP Jatuporn Prompan.

Mr Jatuporn is a co-leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship and has also been charged with terrorism but has invoked parliamentary immunity against arrest.

Mr Chai said he would invite chairmen of all House committees to discuss this matter. Inappropriate appointmetns could tarnish the parliament's image and draw criticism from society.

They would be asked to be careful in appointing outsiders to the posts of adviser, specialist and secretary of various committees now that the annual terms of people holding these positions had expired on Sept 30, he said.

Mr Chai admitted that close associates or relatives of politicians had been appointed to sit on House committees and receive a monthly stipend, paid by the taxpayers.

Mr Vachara on Thursday morning also revealed that Wiphuthalaeng Pattanaphumthai, a UDD leader indicted on terrorism charges now in detention at Bangkok Remand Prison, was twice appointed as adviser to Col Apiwan Wiriyachai, the second deputy house speaker and a Puea Thai MP.

The appointment was not appropriate and Col Apiwan should show responsibility by ensuring the man was not re-appointed and his salary returned, he said.

"tarnished the image of the House of Representatives"

Too late for that.......it was tarnished a long time ago....

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...ife-over-staff

House committees in strife over staff

President inquires into questionable hirings

• Published: 15/10/2010 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Outsiders appointed to work on parliamentary committees are to be investigated by a panel to see whether they are qualified for their posts or have been hired as a special favour.



The inquiry, ordered by parliament president Chai Chidchob, follows growing criticism of the questionable background of some appointed staff and nepotism by committee members.

Scepticism was raised when Democrat MP Watchara Petthong reported that a chief red shirt guard, Aree Krainara, who faces charges of terrorism in connection with political violence, served as an academic attached to the lower house panel on political development, mass media and general public participation.

That set off a string of allegations that some appointees are family members or close associates of politicians and have nothing to contribute to a committee.

Mr Chai said yesterday he would raise the issue with government chief whip Witthaya Kaewparadai and opposition chief whip Witthaya Buranasiri and work out ways to prevent inappropriate appointments.

"The issue has cast the parliament in a bad light and made it a subject of criticism," he said.

Mr Chai said the heads of all house committees would be asked to be careful when appointing outsiders to serve on their panels to succeed those whose terms expired on Sept 30.

Mr Watchara yesterday questioned the appointment of red shirt leader Wiputhalaeng Pattanaphum as adviser to deputy house speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai. He said Mr Wiputhalaeng served on Col Apiwan's political working group in 2008 and 2009 with a monthly salary of 10,000 baht.

Mr Wiputhalaeng is among four red shirt leaders indicted on charges of laying siege to the Si Sao Thewes home of Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda in July 2007.

Col Apiwan said yesterday Mr Wiputhalaeng was removed from the committee on May 1 when political tension heightened.

He said he proposed Mr Wiputhalaeng's removal and the red shirt leader agreed to vacate the post.

Col Apiwan said he did not know the red shirt leader until they were detained in connection with the siege of Gen Prem's home.

"I could sense that he was a good man. He is an upholder of democratic principles, which is the reason I asked him to work," he said.

Puea Thai MP Jatuporn Prompan yesterday defended Mr Aree's track record, saying he was a former staff member of Ramkhamhaeng University and was qualified to hold an advisory post.

He said Mr Aree was considered a suspect, not a convict, so he was qualified to hold the job.

"But as of now he no longer serves on the panel. His term expired and he has not been reappointed," he said.

Mr Jatuporn also said he would step down as a member of the committee on political development, mass media and general public participation.

Parliamentary statistics show almost 3,000 people work for MPs and are on the lower house payroll.

Each MP can employ five personal assistants and one academic, which brings the total number of personal aides of MPs to 2,844. There are 474 serving MPs.

These personal aides include drivers and private secretaries. Some are party staff members seeking extra income or businessmen establishing political connections.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Scepticism was raised when Democrat MP Watchara Petthong reported that a chief red shirt guard, Aree Krainara, who faces charges of terrorism in connection with political violence, served as an academic attached to the lower house panel on political development, mass media and general public participation.

Democrat MP gets suspended jail term for libel

The Criminal Court on Tuesday found Democrat MP Watchara Petthong guilty of defamation before handing down suspended jail term, a damage payment of Bt300,000 and a fine of Bt30,000.

The litigation stemmed from Watchara's newspaper column portraying Jitra Techachan as using her husband's influence to secure the appointment as director of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion Office in 2007.

Watchara wrote his column under the penname "Lak Chai" in Naew Na newspaper.

He alleged Jitra got her job because of her husband Sak Techachan, the judge who sided with the majority opinion to acquit the then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in the asset concealment case in 2001.

In its ruling, the court said Watchara committed three counts of libel, each of which punishable by a jail term of six months.

It then found ground for leniency as Watchara was a first time offender. The imprisonment was suspended but he had to pay the fine and the cost of publishing the verdict in Naew Na for three consecutive days.

Watchara and the newspaper were jointly responsible to pay Jitra for damage plus interest accrued at 7.5 per cent.

The conviction for libel does not impact on Watchara's job status as MP.

nationmultimedia.com

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...kground-checks

Chai orders background checks

• Published: 21/10/2010 at 01:01 PM
• Online news: Breakingnews

House Speaker Chai Chidchob has ordered background checks on some 600 people working with various House committees to prevent them from causing damage to parliament.

Mr Chai said on Thursday that he had given the names to chiefs of government and opposition whips.

They would check the backgrounds of these people, who have been appointed by MPs to work with House committees in various positions such as secretarial and academic jobs and get a monthly stipend.

Those found to have bad records would be told to resign. If they refused to do so and later caused problems, MPs who nominated them fir their job would be held responsible, Mr Chai said.

The speaker's instruction follows the revelation that a red guard leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) who has been charged with terrorism was appointed to a House committee.

A woman appointed as secretary to another House committee was also involved in the transfer of money to a suspect in the explosion at an apartment building in Nonthaburi early this month.

http://www.tannetwork.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1036611

House Speaker Brushes aside Criticism on Nepotism

UPDATE : 27 October 2010

The House speaker has jumped to the defense of his fellow MPs who have been criticized for nepotism.

He said the people who were making the allegations were simply doing so out of jealousy.

House Speaker Chai Chidchob said it is all common to see relatives of some MPs appointed as members of a House committees.

He said people close to MPs are eligible to hold the position of adviser, academic or secretary of any committee as long as their qualifications meet the requirements.

Chai said it was jealous people who brought the issue to light.


In another development, the House speaker said an investigation is now underway in a case in which a House committee member was accused of receiving bribes.

However, he said he could not disclose any information about the probe, as it is confidential.

And while admitting that preventing such unscrupulous behavior is hard to do, Chai said it is the committee chairman's job to take responsibility for his team members' actions.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

House Speaker Chai Chidchob said it is all common to see relatives of some MPs appointed as members of a House committees.

and he sees nothing wrong

what chance Thailand ?

Originally Posted by Mid

what chance Thailand ?

starting to wake up, mid ? good

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/o...in-high-places

EDITORIAL

Cronyism in high places

• Published: 28/10/2010 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Puea Thai Party's spokesman Prompong Nopparit - who first broke the news to the media about the existence of some controversial video clips purportedly showing a Democrat MP discussing the party's dissolution case with an official of the Constitution Court, before they were actually posted on YouTube - has fired off another salvo against the Constitution Court.



In his latest barrage, Mr Prompong accused, without naming names, some Constitution Court judges of practising cronyism by appointing their own relatives as their secretaries or advisers on the court's payroll.

He cited the particular case of a judge who'd appointed his own son as his secretary. Mr Prompong alleged that the son was kept on the payroll even though he had left the country to further his studies abroad.

To counter the allegation, which has yet to be verified, the Constitution Court judges argued that MPs themselves were not any better because they, too, widely practised cronyism by appointing ill-qualified outsiders, many of them their own relatives, as secretaries, advisers or academics attached to various parliamentary committees.

Although it is widely suspected that the Puea Thai spokesman may harbour ulterior motives against the judiciary in general and the Constitution Court in particular, the judges' counter argument against the MPs does no good to the reputation and credibility of the court in the eyes of the public. Like it or not, the Constitution Court's credibility has been bruised by the video clips scandal in which Pasit Sakdanarong, personal secretary of court president Chat Cholaworn, was shown in a meeting with a Democrat MP.

In a similar case, House Speaker Chai Chidchob took immediate action when Democrat MP Watchara Petthong questioned the House political development panel's wisdom in retaining as its "academic", Mr Aree Krainara, a red shirt security chief facing terrorism charges in connection with the April-May protests in Bangkok.

Mr Chai reportedly ordered all the House panels to find out if ill-qualified outsiders had been appointed to sit on the panels as adviser, secretary, academic or expert.

Although it is doubtful that Mr Chai's move, which is seen as just a knee-jerk reaction to the Democrat's complaint, will ever resolve the problem of cronyism in the legislature, his move is viewed as welcome since it would be an eye-opener for the taxpayers.

A similar approach should be taken by the Constitution Court in order to clear its name from the yet-to-be-verified accusations made by Puea Thai Party's spokesman, as both Parliament and the court applied the same rules in their appointments of staff members of the lawmakers and the court judges - that is, each individual judge, MP or senator can exercise his/her discretion in appointing anyone he or she thinks is appropriate, regardless of their qualifications, to be their helpers.

Given the disgraceful example of Mr Pasit, who was handpicked by the Constitution Court president despite his lack of any legal training, there seems to be an urgent need for the court to do away with unqualified outsiders serving as secretary, expert or adviser to individual judges, as each position carries a decent salary provided by the taxpayers. For instance, the monthly salary of an adviser, secretary and expert of the Constitution Court president is 69,910 baht, 47,100 baht and 30,000 baht, respectively. These are no meagre sums and should not be spent wastefully.

Originally Posted by Mid

what chance Thailand ?

UDD files suit against judges
29/10/2010

A lawyer for the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship on Friday filed a petition with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) asking it to investigate and take legal action against four Constitution Court judges for appointing people close to them to secretarial jobs.

Picha Wichitsilp, the lawyer, said the petition named four judges - Boonsong Kulbuppha, Supoj Khaimuk, Chalermpol Ek-uru and Udomsak Nitimontree.

He said Mr Boonsong and Mr Supoj appointed their own sons as their secretaries; Mr Chalermpol appointed a grandchild as assistant to his secretary; and Mr Udomsak appointed two grandchildren as his secretary and assisant secretary.

Mr Boonsong's son, Thanairath, went abroad to further his studies after being appointed without really working at the Constitution Court but continued to receive his monthly stipend.

Mr Supoj's son spent most of his time selling coffee at the government administration centre, the petition said.

Mr Picha said although the court regulations do not prohit the appointment of relatives the judges should take into consideration the appropriateness of their appointments.

In doing so, the four judges might have violated Article 100 (1) of the NACC Act and Articles 152 and 157 of the Criminal Code regarding conflicts of interest.

Moreover, they might have contravened Article 279, paragraph 4, of the constitution and the Constitution Court's announcement regarding judges' moral standards, and could be removed from their positions according to Article 270 of the constitution, he said.

bangkokpost.com


perhaps there is still a slim chance ...................

Yep, 4 judges down....maybe.....how many more to go??