How long will the current Somchai govt last?

[LakeGeneve]

Nothing serious, just a quick poll to see how pessimistic or optimistic members are.

No comments required unless your keen.

(Take note that the EC case against the PPP has been referred to the Supreme Court with a hearing expected in the next couple of months.)

[LakeGeneve]

Thai justice moves very slow at the best of times but lately the courts have had an interesting sense of timing.

Time is running out for Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat - and not on the streets, and not in the courts. A 10-year-old corruption investigation comes to a climax this week and there is only one penalty: Dismissal from office. EXCLUSIVE By Veera Prateepchaikul

Veera Prateepchaikul is Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Post Publishing Co Ltd 13/10/10

Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Anupong Paojinda became the latest public figure to join a chorus of calls for the government to show responsibility for the Oct 7 crackdown on the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters which left two people dead and more than 400 injured. Yet, Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat has persistently resisted the calls, although he said last week that he would consider a response at an appropriate time. Obviously, the embattled premier wants to buy time to delay his decision to show responsibility until an investigation into the tragic event by an independent truth commission is completed.

But time may not be on his side. Instead, it is running out fast. The prime minister may be forced to stand down, not because of a military putsch or because of a Constitution Court order to dissolve the People Power party on electoral fraud charges, but because of a verdict of the National Counter Corruption Commission, which is due tomorrow or Thursday, relating to a decade-long malfeasance case against the prime minister.

To sum up, the case was brought to public attention in 1998 by a chief judge of a panel of the Criminal Court. It referred to the auction of a plot of land in Thanyaburi district of Pathum Thani conducted by the Legal Execution Department under the supervision of the department's deputy director-general, Manit Suthaporn.

It was alleged Mr Manit had not properly performed his duty for failing to demand 43 million baht in tax from the successful bidder for the land deal. Also, Mr Manit had returned the 70 million baht deposit posted by the bidder to the land owner after the first auction was scrapped following the bidder's failure to come up with the money to close the deal. It was discovered afterward by the NCCC that Mr Manit had received 10,000 shares as a favour in return for services rendered. Mr Somchai was then deputy permanent secretary for justice and Suthas Ngernmuen of the Democrat party was then the justice minister.

Instead of being complimented for his whistle-blowing by his superiors in the judiciary and the Justice Ministry, the intrepid judge, who had no business whatever to do with the deal or with the Legal Execution Department, received threats, intimidation and even offers of bribes to have his case withdrawn. Unperturbed he pressed on and a probe was finally ordered and headed by a vice president of the Supreme Court who also worked under heavy pressure.

The probe was completed two years afterward with the Legal Execution Department, instead of Mr Manit, being faulted for the failure to claim the 43 million baht land sale tax for the state. The probe panel also recommended that the case must be followed up to ensure that someone be held accountable for the tax loss.

The case was then swept under the carpet and Mr Manit was promoted to deputy permanent secretary for justice whereas Mr Somchai was named the permanent secretary. Disappointed by the negative response from Mr Somchai, the judge decided to take the case against both Mr Somchai and Mr Manit to the NCCC. It wasn't until the Surayud government took power in 2006 that the NCCC finished the probe against Mr Manit, who was faulted with malfeasance in office. He was eventually fired without any pension in the same year by Gen Surayud's government.

But the case against Mr Somchai who was accused of negligence of duty for his failure to follow up with action against Mr Manit is still pending with the NCCC. A sub-committee headed by Klanarong Chantik has already completed its probe into Mr Somchai's role and has made a recommendation to the NCCC board which is due to deliver its final ruling this week. The timing of the verdict could not be more appropriate given the growing chorus for the embattled prime minister to show responsibility for the Oct 7 bloodletting.

Instead of a coup to force political change which will further exacerbate Thailand's faltering image in the international community, the NCCC should provide a better alternative solution. And there is no reason for the NCCC board to postpone its crucial ruling. If faulted for gross negligence related to a graft case, the only penalty to be meted out is dismissal from service. As such Mr Somchai's qualifications as an MP will be in doubt in accordance with Article 102 (6) of the Constitution. And since he is an MP, his status as prime minister will be in jeopardy too.

[joefarang]

ohhhhhhhhhhhh bollocks!

discussing thai politics seriously is silly really, isn't it?

might as well offer considered opinions about WWF wrestling.........

what a bloody joke it is!

i reckon a semi-benevolent dictator is what this country needs ....

now who would be ideal for that job?

[LakeGeneve]

Whoever choose the 23rd is looking good.

Between the NCCC Somchai case and Anupong using the army channel to express a not so subtle suggestion, it is hard to Somchai lasting more than a few days if that!

PM in peril (Bangkok Post) 17/10/08

If the National Counter Corruption Commission rules against him in an eigh-year-old case, Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat may have to resign immediately.

The National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) will rule today on a complaint filed by senior judge Chamnan Rawiwanpong against Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat alleging dereliction of duty when he was justice permanent secretary.

If the NCCC rules that the accusation against him has grounds, Mr Somchai would be unqualified to be prime minister, said Mr Chamman, now vice-president of the Region 7 Appeals Court.

Corruption commissioner Wichai Wiwitsewee said if the NCCC rules Mr Somchai is guilty as accused the case will be forwarded to the Constitution Court for a ruling on Mr Somchai's status as prime minister. He said Mr Chamnan lodged his complaint in 2000 against Mr Somchai who at the time was permanent secretary of the Justice Ministry.

Mr Somchai was accused of neglecting his duty in not taking action against corruption, which is a serious disciplinary offence for civil servants. Offenders, if convicted, are sacked and stripped of their pension entitlements. They also face criminal charges. In 2000, Mr Chamnan petitioned the NCCC, asking the agency to look into alleged corruption in connection with the sale of land in Pathum Thani province by the Legal Execution Department. The land was owned by the Thanyaburi court.

But after the complaint was filed with the NCCC, Mr Somchai set up a disciplinary panel to accuse Mr Chamnan of committing serious disciplinary offences and recommend Mr Chamnan be dismissed from the civil service. Mr Chamnan countered Mr Somchai's move against him by filing a complaint with the NCCC.

If convicted of committing a serious disciplinary offence while a civil servant, Mr Somchai would not be qualified to be an member of parliament or prime minister, said Mr Chamnan. He added that even though Mr Somchai quit the civil service in 2006, a conviction in this case would have a retroactive effect. Parinya Thewanaruemitkul, a law lecturer at Thammasat University, said if the NCCC ruled the allegation against Mr Somchai had grounds, he would have to immediately resign as prime minister.

Coup via TV? By The Nation

Top brass heap pressure on PM through Channel 3 talks

If it was some kind of a coup, it was one that has never been staged before.

No machine guns and tanks were in sight when the military and police leaders arrived at TV Channel 3 late yesterday afternoon. When they left three hours later, Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's government was shaken to its core.

Army chief Anupong Paochinda led the historic commentary that was soft in tone but brutally harsh in substance. The top brass's unspoken message delivered at the news talk programme hosted by Sorrayuth Suthassanachinda was clear: Mr Prime Minister, you'd better go.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/10/16/politics/politics_30086237.php

[LakeGeneve]

From the overwhelming response of 5 votes it seems that one other person picked the 3 month period.

No prize I am sorry......

[zeusbheld]

i reckon a semi-benevolent dictator is what this country needs ....

now who would be ideal for that job?

i could be persuaded for the right salary.

[Stu_thailand]

He was recently seen boarding a train bound for Singapore...with 28 suitcases.

[Simmo_V2.0]

Is there some rule that every 3rd male child born here must be named Somchai?

[Jay7]

Chalerm is a dude.

[LakeGeneve]

From the overwhelming response of 5 votes it seems that one other person picked the 3 month period.

No prize I am sorry......

Errr, I maybe I have entered the twilight zone but somehow since when I posted the results at 2:14am this morning there was previously only a paltry 6 votes (5 others + mine), the vote tally have skyrocketed to 19 votes!!! :shock:

I don't always have a clear sense of what day it is but I do seem to recollect a certain court case being handed down yesterday. And I did go to the Trooping of the Colours where it was reported that there was no PM who could attend.

Did yesterday not happen or are we doing some Groundhogs Day?

(Just wait for it folks that will come over the next few years).